New Philadelphia, Ohio - City police are urging residents to pay attention to their surroundings and report any suspicious activity after an attempted sexual assault outside a North Broadway residence.

New Philadelphia Police Chief Michael Goodwin says the incident occurred around 11 p.m. on December 14th in the 500 block of North Broadway. He says a 21-year-old woman was taking out her trash when a male subject with a kitchen knife forced her to the ground and attempted to sexually assault her. He says the woman began kicking and screaming and was able to stop the assault but the suspect took off with a change purse that had fallen out of the woman’s pocket. 

Police are now looking for help identifying the suspect who they describe as a chubby white male with glasses, approximately 5-foot-7 who was wearing a light blue hoodie, black knit toboggan, jeans, and white tennis shoes at the time of the attack. They're also encouraging residents to call them anytime something doesn’t seem right.

“We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I’ve always got guys out on the road patrolling. It is not a bother for us to drive by your house and shine the lights on if you think you see somebody in your backyard or somebody who is suspicious or somebody you have not seen in the neighborhood before. We certainly will drive by and make our presence known,” Goodwin says.

The incident remains under investigation but is not believed to be related to a similar attack last month on the south side of the city.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Philadelphia Police Department at 330-343-4488.