Pennsylvania State Police continue to work with West Penn Township and other local police in tracking down a person of interest in the assault of a female officer Wednesday on Route 309.

According to West Penn Township Police Chief Brian Johnson, Sgt. Melissa Ruch stopped along the road about 5:30 p.m. and approached a car parked by a guide rail.As Ruch approached, a man came around the car, picked her up and threw her down the embankment.Ruch's officer-down alert alarm was triggered, which summoned local and state police from Carbon and Schuylkill counties to the scene.Responding law enforcement officers found Ruch located about 20 feet down an embankment.Ruch was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest with injuries described as non-life-threatning.The hospital will not release any additional information due to patient privacy compliance regulations, other than to say she arrived at the hospital on Wednesday.Those close to the family reportedly said Ruch was expected to remain at the hospital for a few days.State Police trooper David Boehm, public information officer of Troop L, Reading, said Thursday that police have not released the name of a suspect, but have described a person of interest.Police are looking for a Hispanic male, 6 feet, 2 inches to 6 feet, 4 inches tall, 240-260 pounds with a tattoo beneath one of his eyes.The suspect was reported to be wearing a dark T-shirt, calf-length blue jeans and possibly driving a dark-colored Nissan Maxima with a license plate that might have been painted over.The initial search involved a state police helicopter and closed down the Blue Mountain to traffic for about eight hours.The assault took place close to the summit, not far from the Schuylkill-Lehigh County line.Police said they would provide updates as more information becomes available.No update was available as of press time Friday.