β€˜I Am Not Going Back to Jail'

Woman attacked at framing shop in Chula Vista in May

A talkative creep tried to sexually assault a woman working alone in a South Bay business.

The violent encounter took place inside a Chula Vista framing shop during the day in a busy area, police said. Three weeks after investigation began, the suspect remains on the loose.

Third Avenue in Chula Vista is a busy stretch of window shops and restaurants.

Jan Cano, who owns a business nearby, knows the victim.

"She had just started working there a couple of months ago," Cano said.

Cano said the woman in her 20s was working alone inside the store when the man came in acting as if he were a customer.

"He acted like a customer, wanted to buy stuff, and then gently asked if he could use the restroom, being polite, and she did it,” Cano said.

The woman’s attacker punched her in the face and knocked her to the ground, according to investigators. He repeatedly punched her while trying to pull off her pants, police said.

"She screamed very loud,” Cano said. β€œPeople in the back heard and came running in, and the gentleman bolted."

Steve Eastis witnessed part of the incident

"He was running fast,” Eastis said. β€œThere was no way I was going to catch him. I just tried to see as best I could, make mental notes of what he wore, that type of thing."

After some early leads, the investigation has slowed, but new information could help. Police said that during the attack, he told the victim, "My mom just died. I'm not going back to jail. I don't care any more."

Investigators hope those words -- along a police sketch that has been issued -- generate new tips that will ultimately lead to an arrest.
   
Any body with information is being asked to call the Chula Vista police at 619-691-5151. Tips can be called in anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 888-580-TIPS or sent to www.tipsubmit.com.

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