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Woman attacked in home invasion

The assailant fled after the victim's 3-year-old son went into the bedroom and saw what has happening.

By STEVE THOMPSON
Published March 16, 2005

The Pasco Sheriff's Office is seeking a man who resembles the man described in a sex assault in Griffin Park Monday.

NEW PORT RICHEY - He came in through her front door, tied her hands with a phone cord and sexually assaulted her.

That is the Sheriff's Office's account of an attack on a 22-year-old woman about 11 p.m. Monday in Griffin Park.

The woman said the man told her he had been watching her play in the front yard with her 3-year-old son.

"What he meant by that, we don't know," sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll said. It was unclear how long the attacker might have been watching.

The man abandoned the attack and fled when the boy went into the bedroom, saw what was happening and started screaming, sheriff's officials say. With her hands still bound, the woman ran to the home of a neighbor, who called 911.

The attack does not resemble any recent cases in the area, Doll said. Nor does the woman's description of her attacker resemble any of those given by kids who have reported being approached by strangers recently in southwest Pasco.

Officials hope the attacker's description will help them find him. They are particularly hopeful after hearing about a scar on his cheek below his left eye.

The woman said he was white, 25 to 30 years old, 180 pounds, with dark brown hair that runs straight down to his chin line. He was wearing a black Windbreaker style jacket, straight-leg jeans, shiny black work boots.

He was driving a dark colored, late model station wagon. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ken Astuto at (727) 847-5878, ext. 7481.

Steve Thompson covers crime in Pasco County. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6245, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6245. His e-mail address is sthompson@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 16, 2005, 01:32:17]