Kat Gore
Special to Mustang News
A woman was sexually assaulted late Tuesday night near downtown, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD).
The sexual assault occurred at Chorro Street and Palm Street at approximately 11:30 p.m., a news release issued Wednesday morning said.
SLOPD Lt. Bill Proll said the 21-year-old victim, a resident of of San Luis Obispo, is believed to be a Cal Poly student.
The press release said the male suspect attacked the woman from behind, pulled up her shirt and grabbed her breasts. Police said he forced her to the ground, got on top of her and tried to pull her pants down. The press release said the victim screamed, which appeared to scare the suspect, and he ran south across Palm Street and into the parking lot behind the Palm Theatre. A silver vehicle fled the area soon after, the victim told police, but the suspect was not seen actually getting into the vehicle.
The press release described the suspect as male and wearing a bulky hooded sweatshirt.
A passerby saw the victim in distress on the sidewalk and stopped to help her and call the police, according to the press release.
Police arrived on the scene one minute after the phone call was made, Proll said.
The suspect, he said, is most likely working alone. It is possible he could be the same person as the suspect in a reported sexual assault at Cal Poly that took place on Jan. 7.
“It is possible,” Proll said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a very good description, but the pattern could be similar.”
Proll said SLOPD cared for the victim and interviewed her, but she did not go to the hospital for medical treatment.
Proll urged people who find themselves victim in a sexual assault to fight back, run and scream. He also advised everyone to follow the tips Cal Poly emailed students on Jan. 14, and to be alert to their surroundings and the people around them.