(3/7/24) Woman fights off attacker on C&O Canal Towpath near Point of Rocks

[K-Romulus]

I didn't see a thread, so hopefully not a dupe.

Link to story:
Frederick News Post

I am not sure if the National Park rules within MD borders follow the state's no-CCW restriction for state parks.
VA and PA and WV are totally free to CCW except in NPS buildings (from what I understand).

"A woman walking along the C&O Canal Towpath near Point of Rocks on Wednesday night narrowly escaped after being attacked by a man who she says watched her begin her route, then staked out the trailhead, waiting for her to return."

and

In a last-ditch effort to scare him off, the woman told her attacker that she could not believe he waited for her. She lied and told the man she had taken a picture of his license plate earlier, prompting him to grab at her phone.

The woman finally broke free after she threw her phone, prompting the man to release her and go after the device. She ran away and used her Apple Watch to call 911.

and

A press release from the Park Service on Thursday described the attacker as a white man with a medium to heavy build who is approximately 6 feet tall.

He had a red or strawberry blond beard and was wearing a baseball cap, a dark hoodie, dark pants and a pair of boots at the time of the attack.

 

[308Scout]

I am not sure if the National Park rules within MD borders follow the state's no-CCW restriction for state parks.
VA and PA and WV are totally free to CCW except in NPS buildings (from what I understand).

They don't. If you can carry legally in a state, they allow it - excluding NPS buildings/facilities, of course.

Laws & Policies - Antietam National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[Afrikeber]

I walk that area of the Point of Rocks towpath often. Not a place for a woman alone to be after dark. Teenagers hang out under the bridge and fisherman at the common points between the towpath and Potomac River. Yes, if you have a carry permit your golden at that location.

 

[mpollan1]

I foresee a CCW permit in this lady's future.

 

[ToBeFree]

judged by 12, carried by 6.

 

[Parry]

I didn't see a thread, so hopefully not a dupe.

Link to story:
Frederick News Post

I am not sure if the National Park rules within MD borders follow the state's no-CCW restriction for state parks.
VA and PA and WV are totally free to CCW except in NPS buildings (from what I understand).



and



and

Sounds like she described the Honest Outlaw on YT:

 

[Tungsten]

My spidey sense is tingling. There is some BS in that story.

 

[Sewer Rat]

Friends walk that pathway alot.... it's gotten worse since we moved to WV four years ago, but Friend's wife carries bear spray now

 

[outrider58]

People, women in particular, need to realize their exposure. Gotta be smart about where you go and when you go there.

 

[Blaster229]

People, women in particular, need to realize their exposure. Gotta be smart about where you go and when you go there.

Hehe. You said Exposure.

 

[4g64loser]

Hehe. You said Exposure.

Zipper at half mast? Or just a low cut top?

 

[davsco]

scary stuff. my wife hikes a lot with our dog, along the AT, w&od, c&o and the like. you just never know.

 

[davsco]

My spidey sense is tingling. There is some BS in that story.

such as?

i think we'd all prefer it to be made up vs a real predator out there.

 

[mpollan1]

scary stuff. my wife hikes a lot with our dog, along the AT, w&od, c&o and the like. you just never know.

I am trying to convince my wife that walking the park (Northwest Branch) that my property abuts is safer than walking out on the streets.

 

[rseymorejr]

Reminder: The murderer of Rachel Morin, on the Ma and Pa trail last year, still hasn't been caught. These trails offer lots of opportunity for criminals. Everyone needs to prepare accordingly.

 

[Tungsten]

such as?

i think we'd all prefer it to be made up vs a real predator out there.

"In a last-ditch effort to scare him off, the woman told her attacker that she could not believe he waited for her. She lied and told the man she had taken a picture of his license plate earlier, prompting him to grab at her phone.

The woman finally broke free after she threw her phone, prompting the man to release her and go after the device. She ran away and used her Apple Watch to call 911. "

That sounds like a Jussie Smollett story.

 

[Occam]

"In a last-ditch effort to scare him off, the woman told her attacker that she could not believe he waited for her. She lied and told the man she had taken a picture of his license plate earlier, prompting him to grab at her phone.

The woman finally broke free after she threw her phone, prompting the man to release her and go after the device. She ran away and used her Apple Watch to call 911. "

That sounds like a Jussie Smollett story.

It would be trivial to look at her device logs and see if she indeed made the call from her watch.

 

[light12pdr]

I didn't see a thread, so hopefully not a dupe.

Link to story:
Frederick News Post

I am not sure if the National Park rules within MD borders follow the state's no-CCW restriction for state parks.
VA and PA and WV are totally free to CCW except in NPS buildings (from what I understand).

The NPS specifically prohibits CCW on C&O canal property. It is posted at many locations .

 

[308Scout]

Second incident reported along the towpath at a different location with suspect description similar to the first:

NPS continues to seek info, investigate after second towpath incident in Frederick County

Authorities continue to investigate and encourage tips after a second incident along the C&O Canal towpath in the Point of Rocks area. What to know.

www.heraldmailmedia.com

 

[AlBeight]

"In a last-ditch effort to scare him off, the woman told her attacker that she could not believe he waited for her. She lied and told the man she had taken a picture of his license plate earlier, prompting him to grab at her phone.

The woman finally broke free after she threw her phone, prompting the man to release her and go after the device. She ran away and used her Apple Watch to call 911. "

That sounds like a Jussie Smollett story.

Or that he fell for the old “here boy, go get it” golden retriever fake ball fetch trick to distract him.

It does have a whiff of implausibility.