Los Angeles Police officials are looking for a man suspected of robbing and attempting to rape a woman in the Van Nuys area Thursday night.
The incident was reported about 8:30 p.m. when the woman was running on the path near the intersection of Burbank Boulevard and Woodley Avenue in the Lake Balboa Park, according to an LAPD statement.
The victim looked back and saw a man with a large knife, police said. The man then asked her to give up her cellphone; although police originally said she complied, a later press release stated it was forcibly taken.
The man then allegedly grabbed her and dragged her into tall bushes nearby where he jumped on top of her and told her, “If you scream, I’ll kill you,” according to police.
The victim, fearing she was about to be raped, struggled with the man and tried to take his knife. The woman screamed as the man kicked her several times, then threw her over a fence, officers said.
He then fled on the bike path.
The victim sustained a cut to her hand, but she was not taken to a hospital.
Police described the suspect as a Latino man around 30 years old with black hair, brown eyes and a “scruffy” beard. He is approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds.
The man was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants, officials said.
Anyone with information, including any possible additional victims of this suspect, can call Detective N. Toosbuy at 818-374-7730. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 877-527-3247.
KTLA’s Nidia Becerra contributed to this story.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the day of the week on which the assault occurred.
