Renton police seek man in sexually-motivated assault on jogger

Renton police are asking for the public’s help to identify a man who allegedly attacked a woman jogging on a trail in Renton last weekend. The attack was reportedly sexually motivated.

Susan Lewis, commander for the Renton Police Department (RPD), said officers were called around 9:30 a.m. Saturday to an assault near Southwest 27th Street and Naches Avenue Southwest. The woman was jogging on a trail in that area when she was attacked.

She suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Because it is an active investigation, police are not releasing additional details about the woman.

Investigators described the suspect as a Black man in his 20s or 30s. He was seen wearing a distinct purple long-sleeve hoodie with animal ears attached to the hood. Lewis said the hoodie looks similar to a child’s style of sweatshirt but is adult-sized. The man was on foot and at times on a bicycle the morning of the assault.

“Yes, animal ears attached to the hoodie,” Lewis said. “I’m a mom, and it reminds me of like a child’s kind of hoodie. But this was an adult-sized hoodie.”

Renton police track suspect’s movements, recover eyeglasses from scene

Police have tracked some of the suspect’s movements that morning. He was seen at bus shelters in the 2700 block of Naches Avenue Southwest around 7:30 a.m. and again around 9:30 a.m. He was also spotted briefly in the 1900 block of Raymond Avenue Southwest from about 9:25 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Renton police are looking for this man. (Photos courtesy of the Renton Police Department)

Detectives have recovered eyeglasses from the scene and are processing them for forensic evidence in hopes of identifying the suspect. Investigators have also canvassed the area for surveillance images and have released photos and location maps on social media.

Police are urging anyone who was in those areas during the relevant times to check dash cameras, home security cameras, or vehicle surveillance systems for images matching the suspect’s description, especially the purple hoodie with ears.

Anyone with information is asked to contact RPD Detective Adele O’Rourke at 425-430-7647 or by email at aorourke@rentonwa.gov.

People who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Follow James Lynch on X. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.

Follow @James_KIRORadio