Man tried to sexually assault teen jogging on bike path, police say

A woman who was jogging on a bike path near downtown Wichita was attacked by a man who tried to sexually assault her, police said.

The 18-year-old woman was jogging near McLean and Seneca at about 1:30 p.m. Monday when a 36-year-old man approached her, Officer Paul Cruz said in a news release. The man physically assaulted her and attempted to sexually assault her, Cruz said.

A city of Wichita employee on the other side of the river saw the attack and called police, who arrested the man, Cruz said. Other people in the area also stopped to help the woman.

The woman had minor injuries, Cruz said.

Cruz said on Tuesday that it was a random incident and the man and woman did not know each other.

Booking reports show Ronald Charles Knittle, 36, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated robbery, criminal threat and interference with a law enforcement officer in connection to the case.

This story was originally published March 26, 2018 at 5:43 PM with the headline "Man tried to sexually assault teen jogging on bike path, police say."