Dogs save owners from sexual assault in Fort Collins Park

When a late-night walk in a Fort Collins park turned into an attack on Sunday, a woman’s dog came to her rescue, biting her attacker and giving her a chance to escape.

Officers responded to a report of suspicious circumstances Sunday after 911 dispatch received a call about 11 p.m. from a woman yelling at a man to get away from her, Fort Collins police spokesman J. Gilmore said.

Dispatchers were able to trace the victim’s phone to Lee Martinez Community Park, Gilmore said.

Officers made contact with the unidentified woman at the park and she pointed them out to a man who was following her, Gilmore said. She told officers she fought off the man for 20 minutes when her dog bit him on the face, allowing her to escape.

Information about the dog’s age, breed and name was not available.

The victim had no prior relationship with the suspect, Gilmore said. The man arrived in Fort Collins from Boulder on Friday and was living in the park.

Fort Collins police officers arrested 39-year-old Seth Estabrooks without resistance on suspicion of three felonies: second-degree assault, strangulation; unlawful sexual contact involving violence or threats; and false forcible imprisonment.