Oakland Police Seek Suspect In Attempted Sexual Assault
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- Oakland police said Friday that they are asking for the public's help in finding a man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a woman on a busy street in the city's Fruitvale District in the middle of the day on Thursday.
Police said that around 11:15 a.m. on Thursday a 36-year-old woman who was walking in the 2000 block of 35th Avenue was approached by a stranger and physically forced to the ground.
The suspect then attempted to sexually assault the woman but she was able to pull away and run from the suspect, police said.
They described the suspect as a black man who is about 35 years old and is 5-foot-6 with a medium build and clean-shaven. The man was wearing a black hooded jacket and black sweatpants.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.
Anyone with information about the case may call the Oakland Police Department's youth and family service division at (510) 238-3641 or a tip line at (510) 637-0298.
Oakland police said they want to warn people to always be aware of their surroundings, not be distracted by cellphones and electronic devices and stay in well-lit and populated areas.
They added that people should be especially alert when they enter and exit their vehicles.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
