Authorities urge vigilance after woman sexually assaulted at Point Defiance Park
TACOMA, Wash. - Authorities are urging heightened awareness after a woman was sexually assaulted at Point Defiance Park on Wednesday evening. The assault occurred around 5:00 p.m. between the Nisqually site and a nearby dog park, according to Tacoma Police spokesperson Shelbie Boyd.
The victim was walking her dog when police say she was attacked from behind in a parking lot between the two locations. Authorities described the suspect as a male dressed in all dark clothing with a mask and gloves.
No arrests have been made.
"It’s alarming," Boyd said. "My family and friends go to this park. This time of year, people are more vulnerable, whether they’re shopping, attending parties, or simply walking their dogs. Awareness is so important this time of year, I just can't say it enough; be aware of your surroundings."
Police confirmed her dog was unharmed.
Shelby Kuwahara, a Tacoma native, has been visiting the park for 33 years. "It’s pretty impressive in that it’s like the escape that you get to have from the city," said Kuwahara. "This is in the north end, a place that you would expect to feel safe."
Kuwahara said she first learned of the attack while out with her sister, Molly.
"We were out getting a pedicure, and it was flashing across the news screen, and Molly just caught the end of the story," said Shelby. "I was in my car just sitting there looking up the story, and I saw that someone was sexually assaulted. It breaks my heart, because it was back earlier in the spring of this year that someone got stabbed in the park, and that was during a busy day—that was mind-blowing."
Molly, who also enjoys the outdoors and getting to spend time with her sister, said she likes the park because it’s like being in the forest. "It’s well populated, but like any place that you feel like you can get peace of mind, that’s kind of taken away with these incidents," said Molly.
Both sisters emphasized the importance of safety measures for visitors.
"As much as I like to do things independently, especially if you’re going to be on the trails and you’re going to be walking, I think you should be with another person, or, if not, a dog," said Shelby. "Don’t be walking with music in, or if you do, it needs to be on really low. Just be paying attention and bring Mace [pepper spray] every time. It’s not too much to take Mace around. It’s something legal that you can have to protect yourself with."
Molly added, "I just really feel for women and men, but women who feel like they can’t do anything alone anymore without being assaulted or attacked. It’s heartbreaking."
A dedicated patrol unit will monitor the park through the weekend as authorities gather more details. Earlier in the year, a separate incident occurred at Point Defiance Park, but the suspect in that case was arrested and charged.
In the meantime, authorities recommend you stay safe by:
- Adjust walking schedules to daylight hours
- Walk with a buddy whenever possible
- Inform someone of your plans, including your destination and expected return time
- Prioritize personal safety over tasks
"Your safety is paramount," Boyd said. "Whatever makes you feel secure, do that."
When asked about potential patterns in such attacks, the spokesperson stated, "We’re not aware of an increase in these types of incidents, but we’re closely monitoring."
Shelby offered additional words of encouragement to the victim and others affected. "Don’t stop living your life. You should go out and have fun, and you should be active and still feel empowered to do those things, but be smart, because you can’t live in the ideal world that, like, ‘Oh, I should be safe.’ It’s just not the case anymore."
Boyd emphasized the importance of community vigilance and urged anyone in the park around the time of the incident to report any suspicious activity. "Even slight details could be crucial," said Boyd. "Many people use GoPros or dashcams, and any footage could aid the investigation."
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