A woman fended off an attempted sexual assault on a Tustin street Saturday but was struck in the face by her assailant before he fled, authorities said.
The attack happened about 6 a.m. when the woman was walking eastbound on the south side of the 1500 block of Mitchell Avenue, Tustin police Lt. Robert Wright said.
"The suspect grabbed the victim and attempted to drag her off the sidewalk into an adjacent area," Wright said. "The suspect attempted to remove the victim's pants but she resisted. The suspect struck the victim in the face during the assault."
The victim continued to resist the suspect and he fled the scene on foot, Wright said. He made no statements to the woman and did not imply or display a weapon.
The woman was treated at the scene by paramedics, he said.
The suspect was described as Hispanic, medium height, about 25 to 35 years old, with black hair wearing a red zip-up hooded sweatshirt, Dickies-style pants and brown boots, and carrying a black backpack with white lettering.
Anyone with information was asked to call Detective Nguyen at (714) 573-3372.
