Woman fights off attacker in Park Slope by throwing her purse

PARK SLOPE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- The NYPD is searching for a man suspected in an attempted rape early Saturday morning in Brooklyn.

Police say a man attacked a 23-year-old woman in Park Slope walking near 7th Avenue and Garfield Place about 4:30 a.m.

They say he came from behind, pushed her down to the ground, and began pulling down his pants.

The woman threw her purse at the man, and he ran off.

It is the fourth attempted rape in Park Slope since April. Police have not said whether all of the cases are connected, but the description of the suspect is similar.

Each case has involved women walking early in the morning, so police are cautioning women who live in the area not to walk alone.