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Jogger attacked by nude man: “Why? What is the point?”

Posted at 11:52 PM, Aug 29, 2014
and last updated 2014-08-29 23:57:16-04

BATTLE CREEK, Mich -  Police in Battle Creek are looking for a man that's accused of attacking a woman while she was out jogging on Wednesday night.

It wasn't until she'd fought him off that the alleged victim realized the man was naked.

This happened along a known jogging path near Riverside Drive and Golden Avenue just before 10:00 p.m.

30-year-old Miranda Oswald is back to work after fighting off a man she says attacked her and pulled her to the ground.  She said she's always thought of herself as a physically fit person, but her adrenaline kicked in when someone tried to violate her.

"I'm not gonna have him stop me from doing something I love to do," said Oswald.

Oswald said she was running a 2 mile path near her home she's ran several times before when the attack happened.

"I was on my way back home like a block and half away finishing it up," said Oswald.

But as she started sprinting for home on the last stretch, she saw a shadow approaching from behind.

"I thought it was another runner, and instead of passing me he sprints up to me and grabs me," said Oswald.

Then Miranda went into defense mode.

"He pulled me to the ground, and put his head on my chest and started groping me. I just started screaming and punching him in the head," said Oswald.

Miranda fought the attacker off, but as she ran away she realized he was naked, and then the next emotion kicked in, anger.

"You're trying to take this power away from me as a woman," she said.

Miranda says she didn't get a clear look at his face. The description police have released of the suspected attacker is a Hispanic male, about 5-foot-5, and 165-pounds.

Police say the attack is a warning to others to stay vigilant, and take precautions when jogging, especially at night.

But this incident isn't keeping her from lacing up tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day after that.

"I try to be a powerful woman by being physically strong, emotionally strong, and that's what I'm still going to be," she said.

Miranda says she won't be running alone or at night anymore.  She's also decided she will be changing up her running route, and is looking into taking self-defense classes.