A man attacked a woman as she was walking downtown Friday night, pushing her into a doorway and trying to rape her, according to Petaluma police.
The assault occurred on Western Avenue near Howard shortly before 1am. The suspect is described as a male in his 20s or 30s who followed the woman as she was walking and eventually caught up with her. The victim fought back and screamed, which caught the attention of people in the area.
The suspect fled and was followed by several good Samaritans who were unable to catch him. Police responded to the area with police dogs, but could not locate anyone fitting the description.
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Police says this type of incident is unusual for Petaluma but want to remind residents to be vigilant about their personal safety at all times. They are also seeking anyone who may have witnessed the attempted assault. If you have any information about this incident, please call Detective Paul Gilman at (707) 778-4375.
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