Pregnant woman fights off an attacker in East End

Cameron Knight & Jessica Schmidt | The Enquirer & Fox19

Update: Accused attacker of pregnant woman released from mental facility 4 days prior.

A Cincinnati man is in jail facing charges after police say he attacked a pregnant woman and tried to rape her, but the woman fought back.

The woman said she is suffering a fractured nose along with bruising and swelling to her face.

The woman, who shared photos of her injuries, but asked that her name not be used, said she was walking her dog on Riverside in the East End around 11 a.m. Friday when she was attacked.

The nine-months-pregnant woman noticed a man, who police now identify as 27-year-old Anthony Smith, coming down Collins Avenue. She said something about his behavior made her uneasy, so she crossed the street attempting to put distance between them, but he followed her.

The woman reported that she then headed towards the LeBlond Center pool where people were swimming. Smith, she said, continued to follow her.

At one point, the woman said she turned and yelled at Smith, saying things like "stay away from us," but Smith still did not stop. The woman, in a panic, took off running, until she said she felt Smith tackle her to the ground and try to pull up her shirt and pull down her pants, all while mumbling "it's OK, let me do this."

She told police she fought back with all her strength, screaming and hitting Smith. Smith, police said, then started punching and hitting her.

A group of people at the pool heard the commotion and rushed over to help. Three men, the woman said, held Smith down, while others tended to her and called 911. In the meantime, the woman's dog reportedly ran home.

After two days in the hospital, the woman's family said she is now out, recovering from her injuries. She said she is grateful for the people who stepped in and saved her and her baby's life and has since thanked those individuals in person.

The woman's sister said the baby is healthy, and the dog is doing OK too.

The woman who was attacked credits her quick thinking to a true crime podcast that she often listens to called "My Favorite Murder."

Anthony Smith, 27, of West Chester is charged with felonious assault and attempted rape in connection with the attack. He is being held in the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $2 million bond.

This is not the first time Smith has been accused on violence, but he has not been convicted because he has been found incompetent to stand trial in both Butler and Hamilton counties.

In Butler County in 2016, Smith pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in burglary case. After a lengthy period of mental health evaluations, the case was dropped because he was found incompetent to stand trial.

In March 2017, he was arrested in Hamilton County for hitting a man in the face. He was convicted and placed on probation for that crime in June.

In October 2017, he was arrested again. Police said he tried to enter a hotel room that wasn't his. Marijuana was also found during the investigation. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

He was sent to Summit Behavioral Health for evaluation. While there in November, court documents state he assaulted someone. The victim required seven stitches in his lip after the attack.

In January, another case was launched against Smith. It's unclear where Smith was at this point, but police said he possessed drugs, resisted arrest and continued to fight officers after they used a Taser on him four times.

In March, Smith was forcefully medicated by court order.

In April, all four cases in Hamilton County were dismissed against Smith when he was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and "unrestorable," meaning court ordered medication or other therapies would not restore his sanity. He was then apparently released.

Smith is in the Hamilton County Jail on charges of felonious assault and attempted rape. His next court date is in July.