Paighten HarkinsCedar City police are asking residents to be aware of their surroundings after authorities received a report of a rape earlier this week and determined the suspect is a public safety risk.
The rape is alleged to have occurred near 570 West and 1045 North on Wednesday night, according to a police department news release.
The release didn’t include additional details of the alleged rape, which Sgt. Clint Pollock said was department policy for rape cases.
The suspect is described as a white man, between 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 6 feet tall with an average build. He was wearing a burgundy hooded sweater and a dark mask.
“If you are in this area, we ask that you be vigilant, aware of your surrounds, and have safety measures in place to protect yourself,” police said in the release.
Pollock said the department has also increased patrols. The department hasn’t received any other reports of rape for individuals matching that suspect description.
Anyone with information on the attack can call police at 435-586-2956.
Paighten is an Enterprise reporter at The Salt Lake Tribune. She covers a variety of topics, including business, health, growth and the legal justice system — sometimes all at once. She is from southern Oklahoma, and lived and worked in the state, most recently at the Tulsa World, before starting at The Tribune in October 2017.