EAGAN, Minn. — The Eagan Police Department is increasing its patrols at Lebanon Hills Regional Park, after two women were assaulted in broad daylight.
The latest assault occurred on Nov. 7 around 11 a.m. Police said a woman was sexually assaulted while walking alone on trail near the visitor center.
In a press release, Eagan Police said a similar attack occurred on Sept. 7. The report said a woman was physically assaulted on Sept. 7, but she was able to get away.
"Law enforcement has limited suspect information, so we are encouraging community members to travel with someone else and be vigilant while using the Lebanon trail system and contact law enforcement if you see anything suspicious," the release said.
Police said there is no evidence that shows these attacks are related or committed by the same person. Eagan Police notified the public about both assaults on Nov. 8. Several people told KARE 11 they weren't notified of the first assault sooner.
"We want to know. I feel like people don’t want to scare us maybe, but we need to know that so we can make informed decisions. We weren’t given that and it’s not OK," said Kate Ives.
Ives walks the park trails a few times a month. She and a friend got lost in the woods a week before the sexual assault.
"If they informed us we would not have ventured off so carelessly and let ourselves get lost," Ives said. "We should have been aware of the attempted assault in September, so we wouldn’t naively be walking around in the middle of the day there."
She's already talked with her friend, and they've decided they'll only walk in open-area spaces.
Kelly Moffitt was also shocked to learn about the physical assault two months after it happened.
“I find that really disturbing and I think if people had access to that information people would have maybe made different decisions to protect themselves in the park," Moffitt said.
She said she often visits the park alone or with her family. Moffitt was at the park the day of the sexual assault an hour after it happened.
“November 7, I actually came for a walk in this park by myself as I often do during the day over the lunch hour… so I was really appalled to learn that had happened on a day, and in broad daylight, while I was in this park," she said.
There are cameras in the parking lots, but Moffitt doesn't believe there are any cameras along the trail.
She said she'll be doing things differently when she comes to the park.
“Unfortunately, I do think I’ll have to do things differently in terms of either not coming into the park by myself, or making sure others know where I am and when I’m there, and making sure I’m constantly vigilant and aware of my surroundings," she said.
Moffitt said she always has her guard up and typically doesn't feel unsafe. This park is her happy place and hopes to see more transparency from the police in the future to alert the public anytime someone is assaulted.
Signs have been posted around the park about the assaults.
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is working with Eagan Police to increase patrols. Eagan Police are working on leads in both cases. Officials stated they have limited suspect information and are encouraging people to walk the trails in pairs.