Erin Udell

erinudell@coloradoan.com

A woman was physically assaulted while riding her bicycle north of Fort Collins Wednesday evening and, due to similarities to other cases, the assault is thought to be related to six others on women in the area over the past six weeks.

The woman, who was riding along the Highway 1 corridor, described the suspect as a Hispanic male in his 30s with a stocky to muscular build, a shaved head or very short hair and a mustache or soul patch, according to a Larimer County Sheriff's Office news release. He fled in an older white or light-colored SUV with two-tone paint on the sides or faded wood-grain paneling.

In these seven recent cases of assault, the women involved were outside and alone between 7 p.m. and midnight when the attack took place, the release says.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office is working with Fort Collins Police Services, sharing information and coordinating resources "to address this public safety concern."

Citizens are asked to stay safe by never traveling alone and staying aware of their surroundings. If you recognize the man from the office's composite drawing, you're urged to call Investigator Ben Hess at 970-498-5173 or Larimer County at 970-221-6868.