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Woman Fights Off Attacker Outside 7-Eleven In Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ (CBS/BCN) -- Santa Cruz police are looking for a man who attacked a woman in a 7-Eleven parking lot early Thursday morning.

The attack occurred at about 3:55 a.m. Thursday in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store at 602 Laurel St., according to police.

The suspect punched the victim, a 47-year-old woman, several times and then dragged her near a Dumpster trash bin, police said.

The man attempted to forcibly make the victim orally copulate him, according to police. She fought the suspect off and was able to escape and run into the store for help.

The suspect left the area and remains at-large. Police believe he regularly frequents the area.

He is described as a black man between 35 and 36 years old, standing at about 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighs between 160 to 180 pounds.

He had short buzz-cut hair, a pierced right ear, and a tattoo on the right side of his neck. He was wearing a Giants World Series cap, black sweatshirt, black jeans and dark shoes, police said.

Police are reviewing surveillance footage of the attack.

The relationship between the suspect and victim is not clear, but investigators have determined they had a conversation in front of the store before the attack.

Police are urging anyone with information on the identity and or whereabouts of the suspect to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department at (831) 420-5820. Information can also be left on the anonymous tip line at (831) 420-5995.

(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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