ALISO VIEJO (CNS) - Orange County sheriff's detectives are searching for a man who may have committed a sexual assault against a woman in Aliso Viejo.
The attack happened at about 11 p.m. Saturday near the area of Pacific Park Drive and Alicia Parkway, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
The woman in her 40s told detectives she was walking alone in the area -- which features a greenbelt to the north, a shopping center on the southwest corner and a condominium complex on the southeast -- when a man grabbed her from behind and dragged her into some bushes, where she says she lost consciousness. When she awoke, her assailant had disappeared.
She could not provide his description to investigators, nor could she could she say what happened in the bushes, as she had passed out.
On Sunday morning, deputies conducted a search of the area for evidence and DNA collection, the OCSD reported.
The department also reported that two sexual assaults occurred in the same area last year.
On Jan. 20, 2020, a 22-year-old woman was skateboarding in the area when she was grabbed by a man. She fought back and the man fled.
On April 2, 2020, a woman told detectives a man grabbed her while she was walking in that area and pulled her into the bushes. She also fought back and her attacker fled the scene.
DNA was collected from both attacks and investigators were comparing it to the DNA collected from the latest incident for a match, the OCSD reported.
That suspect had been described as a man in his 30s with dark eyes, little to no hair and a muscular build. He was wearing a black shirt and shorts during the attacks. A sketch of the suspect is available from the OCSD.
“It is vital that this individual is identified and doesn't have the opportunity to attack again,'' Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said. “While our investigators continue their tireless attempts to identify this suspect, we implore the community to come forward if they have any information to share.''
Anyone with information was asked to call the OCSD's Special Victims Detail at 714-647-7419 or OCSD's dispatch at 714-647-7000. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.
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