No One Helps As Man Sexually Assaults Woman On Busy Los Angeles Street

VAN NUYS, CA — A woman was able to fight off a rapist Saturday in a violent struggle that unfolded on a busy Van Nuys street where passersby ignored the assault.

Los Angeles Police Tuesday released video of the attack and a sketch of a man who sexually assaulted a woman as she was leaving an apartment building.

The attack happened at about 5:40 a.m. Saturday when the man ambushed the woman as she stepped out of her building at in the 14400 block of Vanowen Street, near Van Nuys Boulevard. The woman, who is in her early 30s, struggled with her attacker as he shoved her to the ground, tried to drag her out of site and struck and pinned her, stopping the onslaught briefly when a woman walked directly past and continuing when she kept going.

Police said the woman "put on at least a two- to three-minute fight" with the suspect as he pulled off her pants and underwear.

The suspect, who reeked of alcohol, spoke to the woman in Spanish, which she does not speak, she told police.

"This individual is extremely dangerous and he needs to be taken off the streets," LAPD Capt. Lillian Carranza said.

Carranza said females in the area should not leave their homes alone in the early morning or late-night hours until the man is caught.

The suspect is described as Hispanic, 40-50 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, about 180 pounds with brown eyes and a bald head.

He wore a ball cap with an unknown logo on it and a three- or four-button polo-type shirt with some kind of detail on the left chest area and on the right sleeve.

Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to call police at (818) 374-0007.

After-hours and weekend calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

City News Service contributed to this report.