A Boston man was arrested last week for attacking a woman who was jogging on the Mary-Ellen Welsh Greenway in East Boston at the end of August.
On Wednesday, October 6 Detectives Assigned to District A-7 police station in Eastie arrested Oscar Umana-Tejeda, 26, of Boston, for Aggravated Assault and Battery Dangerous Weapon Umana-Tejada was arrested at 69 Paris Street East Boston and arraigned at East Boston District Court.
The incident occured on Friday, August 20 when an Eastie woman was innocently jogging through the Greenway when she was attacked and slashed by an unknown assailant, later identified as Umana-Tejada.
The frightening attack occurred just before 10:30 a.m. near the Maverick Street portion of the neighborhood park.
Responding officers were met by the female victim who told police that an unidentified male approached her as she was jogging and attempted to stab her. The victim suffered minor lacerations from the attack.
The incident put an obvious scare into women that frequently jog, walk, bike or rollerblade the greenway.
“This is scary. I jog here almost every day,” said local jogger Cristal Diaz after the attack. “Now I’m scared. I guess I have to carry protection now.”
After Umana-Tejada’s arrest police again released tips to ensure the public’s safety, especially those who jog alone in the neighborhood.
These tips include:
• Always be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
• When parking, walking or returning to your car, travel in well-lit and populated areas.
• Wear sneakers or shoes that allow for added mobility.
• Be watchful and aware. Keep your head up. Make quick eye contact with those around you and be observant of passing vehicles. Don’t become distracted by talking on a cell phone or listening to an iPod/similar device.
• Avoid walking alone late at night. Walk with friends and people you know.
• Keep a whistle within reach. If threatened, use the whistle to signal residents for help. Yelling “Fire!” “Help!” or “Rape!” are ways of drawing attention and alerting people of your situation.
• Hold your car keys in your hand to use as a weapon against an attacker.
• Carry a cell phone and call ahead to your destination to alert them that you’re on the way. Make sure you’re expected at a certain time, so in the event you fail to show up, those expecting you will know enough to begin looking for you.
• Walk with confidence. Don’t let anyone violate your space. Trust your instincts. Anyone at any time can be a victim of crime so never assume, “it will never happen to me.”
• If an unarmed attacker confronts you, believe in your ability to defend, distract, or even incapacitate the attacker enough to escape.
• If you think that someone is following you, switch direction or cross the street. Walk towards an open store, restaurant or residence.
Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to assist this investigation in an anonymous manner.