Family Dog Saves Woman from Rape Attempt

BUFORD, Ga. - Police in Gwinnett County have released a sketch of a suspect in a kidnapping and attempted rape that took place earlier this month. They say the family dog intervened and saved the woman from what could have been a much more violent attack.

Investigators say the sketch is of a man who attacked a woman while she was walking her family's beagle on North Bogan Road in Buford on December 13. They say he held a knife to her ribs and forced the victim back into her home, and into her bedroom.  There, police say the suspect made her sit down in a chair, and he used scissors to cut off her hair, and tried to tear off her shirt.

The victim was able to get away when another family dog-- a pit bull named Purple-- bit the attacker, police say. She called for help from a neighbor's house, but the suspect had already gotten away by the time officers arrived.

The suspect is described as a man who is about 25 years old with short, light brown hair cut in a military style. Police say he is about 5’9” tall and he has a thin build.  At the time of the kidnapping, police say the suspect had on blue jeans, a blue sweatshirt and work boots.  He also had a large mole to one side of his mouth. 

Anyone with information about the suspect in this case is asked to call the Gwinnett County Police Department.