Provo may seem like a safe haven, but a young woman’s experience last week proved otherwise.

The Provo Police Department dispatch center received a 911 call on October 24 at 7:40 p.m. from a young woman who had been assaulted while running on the Provo River Trail near 840 N. and 1300 West.

She said a man attacked her from behind as she was running on the trail, forced her to the ground and thrust a piece of cloth with an unidentified chemical substance over her mouth.

After the young woman screamed, the suspect let her go.

Following the attack, a man was at the scene and assisted the young woman. He indicated he chased the suspect away.

The police took both the young woman and the witness to the police station for interviewing and found out that Michael Workman, the purported witness, was in fact the alleged suspect. He told police he intended to sexually assault the victim, but desisted. Police arrested him and charged Workman with one count aggravated kidnapping, as well as one count of attempted rape, both first degree felonies.

Brad Leatham, a BYU police officer over crime prevention, works with female students on campus to help them prevent threatening or harmful situations.

He said young women are responsible for their own safety and should use common sense, like in avoiding dark areas.

“Criminals thrive on darkness,” he said. “They can’t be seen as easily.”

Leatham said young women should always walk with someone else, preferably a gentleman.

Robin Gleaves, a former BYU student who majored in family history, had to walk home alone anumber of times in her college career at BYU.

“I am rather observant, more so at night than during the day,” Gleaves said. “I always have my phone on me. I also plan escape routes constantly — as in what houses have lights on — if someone tried to attack me.”

These are a few of the strategies Leatham suggested women use for walking alone at night.

He said young women should anticipate attackers by practicing “what if” situations, thinking ahead to make plans about what they would do if an attacker jumped out from bushes or was following them.

“Without a plan, you panic,” Leatham said.

He suggested young women communicate with roommates and family members about their estimated arrival time at their destination.

“My family knows what time I’m supposed to be home,” said Ashley de Ruyter, a 23-year-old senior from Newbury Park, Calif. majoring in business management. “If I’m not, they call and find out where I am and if I need help. Or if I’m dead.”

Leatham also recommended young women walk with confidence, face traffic, and not wear headphones.

He said it is hard for people to be aware of their surroundings if they are tuned-in to their music.

“If they’ll use common sense and not put themselves in dangerous situations, they’ll be a lot safer,” Leatham said.