Man Grabs Woman, Sexually Assaults Her In Evanston

EVANSTON, Ill. (STMW) -- Police are looking for a man who dragged a 19-year-old woman into a gangway and sexually assaulted her Tuesday morning in north suburban Evanston.

The woman was walking in the 1700 block of Howard Street when a man grabbed her around the waist and dragged her across the street into Evanston and sexually assaulted her about 6 a.m., according to an Evanston police release.

Police said the woman was able to break free and run to the corner of Howard and Dodge Avenue, where she flagged down a passing Chicago Police officer, who took her back to the scene and radioed for Evanston police.

A description of the suspect was immediately broadcast and Evanston and Chicago police searched the area but did not find him, Evanston police said.

The suspect was described as a black male with a dark complexion, wearing a blue baseball cap and black T-shirt, Pioneer Press is reporting.

Further investigation revealed that the woman's purse, which had been dropped during the struggle, was missing, police said. The victim was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where she was treated for minor injuries and met by a victim advocate assigned to the police department.

Anyone with information should call the Evanston Police Department's Detective Bureau at (847) 866-5040 or anonymous tips can also be sent by text messaging to CRIMES (274637) followed by EPDTIP in the message line and then submit the tip.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)