Sexual Assault Suspect At Large In Palo Alto

PALO ALTO, CA -- Police are searching for a suspect responsible for attacking a woman walking on a neighborhood sidewalk on Thursday evening.

The suspect has not been identified and remains at large.

The call at 6:04 p.m. indicated the woman was screaming in the 400 block of Miramonte Avenue.

A neighborhood search with a K9 was conducted, and a preliminary investigation reveals that a women in her 30s was walking southbound in the 1500 block of Castilleja Avenue, when a male allegedly came from behind and put his hand over her mouth. The suspect pushed the victim down into the bushes.

During the struggle on the ground, the victim started screaming, and the suspect began to punch her in the face repeatedly. Neighbors heard the screams and came outside, which scared the suspect away. He was last seen running away eastbound on Miramonte Avenue then turning southbound on Mariposa Avenue.

The victim suffered bruising and swelling to her face as well as a shoulder injury but declined medical attention. No property was stolen. The motive for the attack is unknown.

The victim could only describe the suspect as a male wearing jeans and a black backpack. It is possible that one of the neighboring witnesses may be able to work with a police artist to produce a sketch. Detectives who are actively working the case are reviewing video surveillance footage from neighbors that may have captured images of the suspect or the assault. If either a sketch or surveillance images becomes available, police will release them immediately.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail t o 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the free mobile app, downloadable at www.bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or www.bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.

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