Woman Attacked in Downtown Tampa Parking Garage

Authorities are searching for a man they say attacked a woman this morning in the Fort Brooke Parking Garage in downtown Tampa.

The victim, described by police as a 63-year-old woman, parked on the eighth floor of the parking garage and was walking to the ninth floor elevator when a man grabbed her and dragged her to the stairwell around 11:37 a.m. today, according to the Tampa Police Department.

The man pushed the woman to the ground, punched her several times and fondled her, police said.

The woman heard people nearby in the garage and started screaming for help, prompting the man to flee, police said.

The man was spotted on the closed circuit camera system, and detectives are trying to download a surveillance video of the attack.

The man is described as a white, between 50-60 years old, possibly homeless, about 6'1, 190 pounds, with short gray hair and a light beard, police said. He may have been wearing dark purple cargo or parachute pants, no shirt and a bandage on his right elbow, police said.

Anyone with information should call 813-231-6130.