Police in West LA search for man wanted in violent sexual assaults

WEST LOS ANGELES (CNS / FOX 11) - Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department West Division are asking for the public's help to identify a man allegedly responsible for two sexual assaults over the Independence Day weekend.

On Tuesday afternoon, police released surveillance video of the suspect walking the neighborhood where the assaults took place.

The man is wearing a red baseball cap, a blue long sleeve shirt and khaki shorts.

Both assaults happened along Westgate Avenue, near Santa Monica Boulevard, just half a mile apart, according to police.

The most recent assault took place on the 4th of July when police said, the suspect attacked a woman in broad daylight while she was walking home from work around 4 p.m.

The man allegedly put his arm around her neck and dragged her down a driveway where he assaulted her and took off.

Just two days earlier on July 2, police said the same man attacked another woman in her early 20s who was also walking home.

According to police, he dragged her into a dark alley where he threw her to the ground and assaulted her.

The woman tried to fight back, but the suspect punched her repeatedly.

The suspect is described as a black male with black hair and facial hair.

He ranges in age from 25 to 30 years old, stands 6 feet tall and weights about 160 pounds.

Police believe neighbors may have heard the women screaming for help, but did not call police and their asking anyone with information to come forward.

Meantime, police are advising residents in the area to not walk alone and not to walk at night until the suspect is arrested.

Anyone with information is urged to call police at 213-473-0667.

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