Police on lookout for man who groped female jogger in Healdsburg

A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in Healdsburg on Sunday night by a man who grabbed her buttocks while she was jogging, the Healdsburg Police Department said.

The reported assault happened about 5:21 p.m. while the woman was running north on Grove Street, police said. She was passing the Oak Grove Apartments complex and approaching the railroad tracks by Healdsburg Avenue, said Sgt. Scott Eland. The suspect, described as a man in his early to mid-20s and approximately 6 feet tall, came up behind her and grabbed her rear end in a sexual manner.

Eland said the woman reported that the suspect didn’t say anything to her after he grabbed her - the suspect just looked back once as he walked away and grinned at her.

The suspect climbed over a fence and walked south along the railroad tracks toward the Healdsburg Community Center, Eland said. Police searched the area but were not able to find the man.

Officers continued to investigate the crime Tuesday and asked anyone with information about the assault to contact the department at 707-431-3377 and refer to case 19-1248.

Eland said detectives are looking for possible surveillance videos from nearby businesses, but haven’t yet identified any witnesses.

The suspect was last seen wearing a black jumpsuit-style jacket and black-colored sweatpants. He was described as medium build, and clean-shaven with straight black, shoulder-length hair.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story contained misinformation provided by Healdsburg Police Department that the assault happened at 8:24 p.m. Sunday.

Staff Writer Chantelle Lee contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writer Nashelly Chavez at 707-521-5203 or nashelly.chavez@pressdemocrat.com.