Police release description of woman who attacked CARTA workers

Unknown substance thrown, injuring five, one seriously

Ambulance tile
Ambulance tile

A CARTA employee is recovering after someone tossed an unidentified liquid on her Tuesday morning.

Chattanooga police said an unidentified person approached the woman at 7 a.m. as she was walking from her vehicle toward the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority operations center at 1617 Wilcox Blvd. The suspect threw an unidentified liquid from a cup on the woman and fled.

The liquid also splashed onto four other CARTA employees.

Chattanooga police homicide unit supervisor Sgt. Victor Miller said the woman, who appeared to be the target, received "serious injuries," while the four others had less severe injuries. The woman was still being treated Tuesday night, according to police.

Police said they are looking for a black female with light complexion. She is 5 feet, 3 inches to 5 feet, 5 inches tall. She was wearing a blue, short-sleeve T-shirt, khaki pants and a hairnet or scarf, and she wore rubber gloves, according to a news release.

Chattanooga Fire Department Capt. David Thompson Jr. said in a statement the substance was determined to be not life-threatening, but more testing will be done to find out what it is.

Thompson said 15 fire companies, including the department's hazardous materials team, responded to the scene.

Anyone with information about the attacker's identity or whereabouts is asked to call Chattanooga police at 423-698-2525.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton.

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