NYPD: Queens victim punched in head during attempted rape

JACKSON HEIGHTS, Queens (WABC) -- Police are looking for a man they say assaulted a woman in Queens before attempting to rape her early Sunday.

The incident happened just before 5 a.m. near 74th Street and 36th Avenue in Jackson Heights.

Investigators say the suspect approached his 35-year-old victim from behind, grabbing her arms and repeatedly punching her in the back of the head.

The suspect then dragged the victim to a fence, according to authorities, where he tried to sexually assault her. She was able to fight him off, and the man ran off with her purse.

The fleeing suspect was caught on surveillance video, apparently trying to keep his pants from falling down as he ran.

The victim was treated at the hospital for bumps and bruises, and she is expected to make a full recovery.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his early to mid 30s, approximately 5-foot-5 inches with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a white jacket, a green shirt, black shoes and light-colored pants.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).