As darkness fell upon State College on Wednesday, search efforts called off for a man who attacked a woman with a knife.

Police spent most of Wednesday looking for the man who attacked the woman near Sunset Park around 2:30 p.m.

Ferguson Township Police Chief Diane Conrad said, "We have all the local police with a perimeter. We have helicopters from the state police. The National Guard helped earlier. We also have tracking dogs."

Police say the man attacked the woman, a Penn State grad student, with a knife and slit her throat. He then took off into the woods near Sunset Park. Penn State sent out a text alert warning students to be cautious as the search efforts extended into student heavy parts of town.

Conrad added, "It’s a fairly large perimeter, so it’s not easy to search."

The assailant is described as a white man with facial hair, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, wearing black clothing, possibly with a backpack.

He is considered armed and dangerous. Police urge the public to be on the lookout.

Conrad said, "The victim did bite one of his hands, so that’s an important descriptor for anybody."

Anyone with information is asked to immediately call police.

Stay with 6 News, WJACTV.com and WJACTV.com Mobile for continuing coverage.

UNEDITED: Ferguson Township police news release

December 12, 2012

A woman was attacked shortly before 2:30 PM this afternoon as she walked on the Penn State Arboretum pathway to the north and about 200 yards from the end of Clinton Ave., Ferguson Township. The woman was grabbed from behind by an unknown male. The woman screamed and fought off the assailant, biting him hard on his hand. The male fled the area and the victim, discovering she had been cut and was bleeding from the area of her neck, traveled toward Clinton Ave. where she came upon a woman jogger who assisted her and called police.

Police from the surrounding areas responded, and a suspect was seen from a distance a short time after the incident fleeing in a northwest direction.

Police surrounded the area, largely consisting of woodland, field and farmland between Park Ave. and I-99, and conducted a search until approximately 7 PM utilizing tracking dogs, air units and vehicle and foot patrols, however the suspect was not located.

The suspect male is described as white, in his 20's or 30's, approximately 5' 8" or slightly taller with a slim or medium build. He was wearing black clothing and a gray jacket. He has facial hair and the beard hair may come to a point on his chin.

The weapon is an edged weapon, no further description.

The suspect may have a noticeable bite mark on one of his hands. The woman, a Penn State student, was treated and released from the hospital. Anyone who may have information about this crime or who may see anyone fitting the description is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately.

To report tips on a crime anonymously, contact Centre County Crimestoppers at 1-877-99-CRIME or tip@centrecountycrimestoppers.org. Crimestoppers pays rewards of up to $1,000 if your information leads to an arrest.