Albany Police canvassed the Pine Hills neighborhood Saturday trying to figure out who is responsible for a violent, early morning attack on a woman. Police are warning people to take extra precautions as this is the second attack in just days.
The latest, a 26-year-old woman violently assaulted on Yates Street at about 3 a.m. Saturday.
Police say the woman had just left Bogie's Bar on Ontario Street, the attack happened around the corner on Yates Street.
Bogie's Manager Mike Valente says the woman was walking to her car alone, and says that’s a bad idea in this area.
“The later it gets, the more creeps come out it seems,” he said. “We police this block and when we do live shows here there's very rarely any instances.”
Police say the woman was alone when a black man approached, started choking her, and hit her in the head with an object, knocking her unconscious.
“When she awoke he was dragging her on the ground toward Partridge Street,” explained Albany Police Spokesman James Miller.
He says the victim started screaming when the man tried to sexually assault her.
The commotion grabbed the attention of someone nearby, that's when the attacker stole the victim's purse and ran.
Police say the incident is eerily similar to another assault early Thursday morning.
A man attacked a 23-year-old woman walking on Hamilton Street and made off with her purse after a neighbor intervened.
“Unfortunately, this happened and it is very serious and we are taking very seriously, but thankful that people get involved,” Miller said.
Detectives are even working with Saratoga Police to make connections between the incidents in Albany and two sexual assaults there last week.
In all four attacks, the suspect - a man, and the victim - a woman walking alone in the dark.
“When people go home, pair up, they shouldn't be walking alone anyway and that goes for any neighborhood,” Valente said. “I mean when it is dark who knows, it's not just here, it's everywhere.”
The witness helped the victim get to Albany Medical Center where staff called police.
She sustained a laceration to her forehead and bruising to her face and both eyes.
The Yates Street attacker is described as a black man with dreadlocks.
The suspect in the Hamilton Street assault is described as a black man, about 5’6”, wearing jeans and a hooded sweatshirt.
Police are asking for help in this investigation. Anyone with information should contact the Detective Division at 462-8039.
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Albany police are investigating an early morning assault and robbery of a 26-year-old woman on Yates Street.
Police say the victim had just walked out of Bogie's at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday and stopped alongside of a fence on Yates Street.
She told officers a black male with dreadlocks approached her, started to choke her and hit her with an unknown object in the head causing her to briefly lose consciousness.
Police say the suspect pulled the woman up Yates Street towards Partridge Street.
While she was on the ground the victim came to and started to scream when the suspect attempted to sexually assault her.
A witness heard the victim scream and came to her aid.
The suspect stopped the attack and grabbed the victim’s purse and ran west on Morris Street.
The witness helped the victim to Albany Medical Center where staff called police.
She sustained a laceration to her forehead and bruising to her face and both eyes.
Detectives and officers canvassed the neighborhood early this morning.
They are looking into whether there is as connection between this incident and the attack on Hamilton Street on Thursday morning.
Anyone with information should contact the Detective Division at 462-8039.
