The Alliance Police Department is investigating a sexual assault that occurred Monday evening, July 13, 2026, at Laing Lake.
At approximately 9:35 p.m., officers were notified that an adult female had been sexually assaulted while walking alone in the area of the pedestrian bridge at Laing Lake. Officers responded to Box Butte General Hospital to meet with the victim while additional officers secured and processed the scene.
The preliminary investigation indicates the victim was walking south across the bridge shortly after 9:00 p.m. when she was attacked from behind by an unknown male. The suspect forced the victim to the ground, sexually assaulted her, and fled on foot.
Due to the darkness, the victim was unable to provide a detailed physical description. She described the suspect as having a deep, raspy voice, a strong body odor, and wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt. Officers believe the suspect may have been waiting near the trees on the south side of the bridge before the assault.
As part of the investigation, officers conducted an extensive review of surveillance cameras in and around Laing Lake. After a thorough review, none of the cameras captured the assault or provided a clear image of the suspect.
The investigation remains active. Officers are continuing to pursue all available investigative leads, and additional evening patrols have been assigned to the Laing Lake area.
Chief David Leavitt urged residents to remain vigilant while emphasizing that incidents of this nature are extremely uncommon in Alliance.
“This was a random, violent attack, and we are committed to identifying the individual responsible. While we do not want residents to be alarmed, we do want them to be aware. If you walk or exercise after dark, consider doing so with another person, remain alert to your surroundings, and report suspicious activity immediately. If you were in the Laing Lake area Monday evening between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and observed anything unusual, no matter how insignificant it may seem, we encourage you to contact us. Even the smallest detail could prove critical to this investigation.”
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Alliance Police Department at (308) 762-4955.
The investigation is ongoing, and no additional information will be released at this time.