CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — The attack of a Clay County woman jogging in broad daylight on Tuesday is shedding light on the potential dangers women face every single day.
Investigators say 22-year-old Jayson Thomas grabbed the woman from behind and pulled her into nearby woods in Middleburg. The sheriff’s office says he threw her down and began forcibly removing her clothes.
Luckily, she was able to escape and ran for help.
Two months ago, a woman was walking her dog in Jennings State Park when an unidentified man grabbed her arm.
She too was able to escape.
“Everyone should know self-defense,” said Master Benjamin LaMasters, owner of Underground Fitness and Self Defense in Jacksonville. “It’s absolutely vital.”
LaMasters says it’s especially important for women to know how to defend themselves.
“Self-defense gives people the ability to fight back or take action, right? What if my words weren’t enough? What if I called for help and nobody was there? You have something you can do, and you can have something to do right away as you still do all the other things that you know,” said LaMasters.
Some tools women can carry are mace, pepper spray, personal alarms, and impact key chains.
Underground Fitness and Self Defense also does virtual self-defense training sessions. You can learn more about that by clicking the link here.
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