East Ridge police are investigating the attempted robbery of a woman on State Line Road late Tuesday evening.

According to a police report, at 10:36 p.m. officers responded to the Home Place Apartments in the 900 block of State Line Road in regard to a robbery of a person. Officers spoke with a woman who said that she pulled into her parking spot in front of her apartment when she was approached by two young black men. The woman said the men asked her if they could have a cigarette and when she began to get the pack one of the men pulled a pistol and tried to take her wallet.

The report states that the woman fought the men over the wallet and she was struck numerous times in the face. When the men failed to get the victim’s wallet the men jumped a fence behind the complex and took off in the direction of East Ridge High School. One witness told police that although he didn’t witness the attempted robbery and assault, he also was approached by several black men who asked him for a cigarette. The report states that the man told the possible suspects that he didn’t smoke and went inside his apartment.

The report states that officers responded to the scene and formed a perimeter around the apartment building and the high school. A K9 officer was brought in in an effort to track the suspects. Axel, the K9, was unsuccessful in picking up a scent, the report states. One possible explanation is that the suspects had left the scene in a car. One person told officers that a black vehicle pulled off from behind the baseball fields at the high school at a high rate of speed about five minutes before law enforcement arrived.

The report states that officers believe the suspects had a car waiting for them and took off before police arrived.

The only description the victim could give police of her assailants were that they were black males; one wearing a blue hoodie and the other a gray one.