Sex Assault Victim: 'I Thought He Was Gonna Kill Me'
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Detectives are seeking the public's help to identify a sexual assault suspect wanted in Orange County.
According to the Santa Ana Police Department, the assault took place around 10 p.m. Tuesday in the 1600 block of South Pacific Avenue.
"I thought he was gonna kill me or stab me or shoot me," the alleged victim, who did not want to be identified, told KCAL9 Friday.
The victim said she had just dropped off her daughter, returned home and parked nearby. The suspect then forced entry into the car, pulled down his pants, and exposed himself to the woman.
"He pulled the door handle and was able to open my door," she said.
The suspect then pushed himself on top of the woman and attempted to sexually assault her.
"I thought he was reaching for a weapon. He was actually reaching for his belt. I heard it clanging."
The victim screamed and kicked violently, forcing the man off of her.
"He had his whole body over me, hovering, and I was just hitting him in the chest."
Police said the suspect fled from the area on foot. Surveillance video showed the suspect walking nearby just prior to the attack, and then running away afterwards.
Investigators say this wasn't the only incident that night. They believe the same suspect approached another vehicle a few blocks away just 14 minutes later.
"Very brazen, we want this guy stopped," Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
The victim and a witness described the suspect as a Hispanic man between the ages of 24 to 30 years old, around 5-foot-7, with a medium to dark complexion. He has multiple pock marks or acne scars on his face. A sketch has been released of the suspect.
He was last seen wearing a dark baseball cap, a gray hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and dark shoes with white soles.
Anyone with information about the identity or whereabouts of this man has been urged to contact the police at 714-245-8516.
