Anchorage Daily News

A man with a "strong body odor" who attacked a student on a wooded campus walkway, apparently without provocation, is being sought by University of Alaska Anchorage police. The student, who was not identified, suffered some bruising around her neck and head after the attacker choked her from behind and began punching her, police chief Dale Pittman said.

The woman had been talking on a cell phone as she walked through the woods between the University of Alaska Anchorage and campus housing, which abuts Providence Alaska Medical Center, he said.

She told police the man grabbed her from behind about 3:30 p.m. She turned around and fought the man off after suffering minor injuries and sought help. The motive remained unknown.

The attacker was described as a white man in his 40s, between 140 and 150 pounds and wearing a blue sweater or sweatshirt with a blue ball cap. He also had a strong body odor, though it was not known if he was homeless, Pittman said.

Anyone with information on the attack should call campus police at 786-1120.

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