Austin News
TV: Search for attempted sexual assault suspect
10:57 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Police are asking for your help identifying a man accused of attempted sexual assault at an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Willow Creek in Southeast Austin.
APD detectives are confident the attacker lives in or near the area but they said at this time there's no information linking him to any other crimes, and they said the victim did not recognize him.
It was about 4am this past Sunday when detectives said the sexual predator entered the victim’s apartment on Willow Creek through the bedroom window. The victim was asleep at the time but woke up when she realized someone was in the room.
"He attempted to sexually assault her. A struggle ensued and she was able to get to her cell phone and dial 9-1-1," said Andrew Romero, a detective with APD's Sex Crimes Unit.
APD
Austin police released this composite sketch of the suspect.
The victim described her attacker as a Hispanic male, 16 to 19 years old, about 5’3”, medium build, with short black hair, brown eyes and a goatee. The victim told detectives as she was making the 911 call, her attacker left through the same window, but broke it during his escape.
"We think he may have suffered some injuries both from the victim resisting him and as he was fleeing the apartment," Romero said.
The incident has sparked concern among apartment residents.
"It scares me to death really. As soon as you told me I started shaking because I have been gone all weekend, that could have been my apartment and I could have been that person," Jami Carnes said.
"Yeah I’m really concerned because I saw it on the news and I saw my address and that is something I’m always concerned about because I’m not from Austin and you hear about a lot of crime, especially in this area," said resident Amy Delarosa.
Delarosa said she was concerned even before Sunday's attempted assault.
"Within the past year, me and my roommates actually saw a guy walking around the apartments looking at our neighbors windows," Delarosa said.
Residents told us they intend to be more cautious especially now that they know how the attacker gained entry.
"There is a lock on our windows that I have not been using because I have been opening the windows so the breeze can come in. So I have to make sure I lock my windows," said Viriviana Tule.
If you have any information that may help identify the attacker, you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 472-TIPS.
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