Man arrested for trying to rape early-morning walker

A Williamsburg man is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash bond for allegedly trying to rape a female jogger last week.
Judge Dan Ballou will decide Monday afternoon whether a grand jury should consider the case against William B. York, who pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Tuesday afternoon.
Williamsburg Police Detective Wayne Bird charged York, 22, of 35 Byrd Street, with criminal attempt to commit rape Thursday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Officer Mike Taylor charged York with fourth-degree assault and second-degree stalking in connection with the same incident, which happened about 4:44 a.m. near Highland Park.
Bird said the victim came out to do her normal daily walk about 3:30 a.m. About an hour later, a man attacked her by tackling her to the ground and tugging at her clothing, Bird said.
The victim fought off her attacker and fled to her home while the attacker ran from the scene on foot, police said.
After the police were contacted, the victim’s husband and Taylor tracked the snowy footprints from the scene of the attack back to a residence on Byrd Street, Bird said.
The victim’s description of her attacker and the clothing he was wearing matched York “to a ‘T,'” Bird said. “The boots Officer Taylor recovered still had ice on them. They matched the same tracks in the snow that he saw.”
Taylor initially charged York with stalking and assault, and contacted Bird to do a follow-up investigation.
Through his investigation, Bird said he learned that York had observed the woman walking on Old Corbin Pike near the junction of Highland Park Drive.
“He followed the victim for over a quarter of a mile behind her before he attacked her,” Bird said. “At this point, we believe his intentions were attempted rape.”
Bird said that to his knowledge, York doesn’t know the victim, but that York’s home has a good view of Old Corbin Pike, which is a poplar walking and jogging route for people that live in the Highland Park area.
“They have a certain block that they walk down there,” he said.
Bird said York moved to Williamsburg about eight months ago from Knoxville, and that he has no prior record of any sexual offenses.
Bird said this is the first case he can ever recall since he has been a police officer where a female jogger has been attacked in Williamsburg.
“There may have been some harassing similar situations at the college that didn’t turn out to be anything, but this is the first case I can remember where a female jogger was actually attacked,” Bird said.
“The female victim has really suffered over this thing too. Officer Taylor did an excellent police work in terms of apprehending the suspect.”
Bird said his primary piece of advice to female walkers and joggers, or anyone for that matter, is to remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
“They may feel comfortable in their neighborhoods, but people come and go through neighborhoods all the time,” he said. “They need to pay attention to their surroundings first of all. Second of all, I would recommend that they carry some kind of mace or personal alert system.”
Bird added that it isn’t always possible, but it is good idea to walk or exercise with a partner.