The Madison Police Department is urging caution following a violent sexual assault that occurred early Saturday morning on the Capital City Bike Path.

Police Chief Mike Koval described the attack as extraordinarily violent, and said he had not seen anything like this during his 30 years on the force, according to WKOW.

Koval said the victim, a 33-year-old female, was attacked from behind before being strangled, beaten and sexually assaulted.

According to a MPD incident report, the assault took place between 12 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. on the 300 block of South Livingston Avenue.

The victim, however, was not found until 1:45 a.m. according to WKOW.

The suspect is described as male with a “medium build,” between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, according to the report.

Police are urging anyone who was near the area at the time to come forward with any information they might have.

According to WKOW, MPD is treating the incident as an attempted homicide.