Police believe Palatine stabbing unrelated to similar attacks

Authorities believe the stabbing of a 33-year-old woman in a forest preserve near Palatine is not connected to attacks on other women along Northwest suburban jogging trails over the past 14 months.

Sophia Ansari, a spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriff's Office, said Sunday there is no new information regarding Saturday's attack in the Deer Grove East forest preserve and no one is in custody, but the investigation is ongoing.

Authorities said the woman was jogging alone on a trail located along West Dundee Road when a man stabbed her in the abdomen. The attacker, who fled on foot, was described as a Hispanic man, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a medium build, and bald. He was wearing a black shirt and two earrings in his right ear.

The woman was able to drive to a nearby home where an ambulance was called about 4:40 p.m. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, Ansari said.

The attack follows in the wake of similar assaults in Arlington Heights.

On Nov. 14, a man attacked a female jogger near Valley Lane and Windsor Drive, police said. The man, according to police, ran alongside the woman about 5 p.m. that day and tried to engage her in conversation. After she ignored him, he grabbed her by the waist and spun her around, officials said. After a brief struggle, the woman was able to escape and call police. She was not hurt.

It was the third time in the past 14 months that a female jogger has been attacked in or near Lake Arlington Park. Previous attacks occurred at 6 a.m. Sept. 26, 2013, in Lake Arlington Park, and at 5:30 a.m. Oct. 11, 2013, a little more than a mile from the park. In those two attacks, the victims also were battered.

Arlington Heights police are advising people to be aware of their surroundings while jogging or walking, to run with someone else, stay out of secluded areas and to not run after dark or while wearing earphones.