A La Jolla woman was sexually assaulted and then punched in the face Tuesday, Nov. 18 while walking on a popular bike path near Gravilla and Draper streets. Community leaders issued warnings to residents who use the stretch of remote dirt pathway, recalling similar incidents occurring over the past year. At about 6:40 a.m. Tuesday, a neighbor alerted San Diego firefighters at Station 13 that a woman was lying on the bike path injured, said San Diego Police Department Detective Gary Hassen. Rescuers found the woman, who said she had been beaten and sexually assaulted while walking on the path, he said. Although police found a man nearby who fit the woman’s description of her attacker and took him into custody, he was later relased, Hassen said. Firefighters took the La Jolla woman to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for injuries to her face. “Regrettably, an incident Tuesday morning reminds us to be careful in using the path,” Bird Rock Community Council (BRCC) members said in an e-mail. “The bike path is a favorite trail for jogging, walking or just getting away from city streets and a very unique amenity for La Jollans. However, we need to be cognizant of the remoteness of the trail and what that entails.” Meanwhile, BRCC members issued an e-mail warning residents of the attack and reminding locals that similar incidents have occurred along that same stretch. “It’s a good reminder to be aware and to be cautious,” BRCC member Michelle Fulks said. “The e-mail was to make people aware and to remind people.” A handful of incidents occurred over the past year, Fulks and other BRCC members said, asking the community to remain on guard while using the path. “There was a guy walking a dog off his leash that attacked a boy and his mother,” Fulks said of a previous attack. “Then a sixth-grade boy was riding his bike from Muirlands when a guy jumped out of the bushes. The mom was 30 feet behind, so that was good. But a few days prior to that, a man tried to accost a single female in approximately the same place.” Although the police are aware of the incidents, they can’t provide permanent patrol of the trail, BRCC said. Group members offered citizens tips to stay safer while using the trail. “Until the community and the police determine a larger strategy, we must be careful on how we use it. In twilight hours, don’t use it alone,” BRCC said. “Encourage school-age kids to travel with a buddy during all times of the day. Be aware of your surroundings.” Community leaders said path users should be vigilant while entering and exiting the path. “If you see suspicious behavior, report it to the police or the fire station where the bike path ends at Nautilus,” council members said.