Click in the Eyewitness News Story Window above to watch Leo Stallworth's report from the scene.
Police say soon after an 18-year-old woman got off at the Metrolink Station at Wilbur Avenue and Parthania Street in Northridge after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, she was followed by a man in a car.
They say as she walked along Parthania Street on her way home, the man harassed her. When she ignored the suspect's advances to get in his car, he got mad and got out of his car naked.
"He exited his vehicle fully nude chased her, grabbed her by the sweatshirt and attempted to pull her back to the vehicle," said LAPD Detective Mike Fesperman. "But she was able to break free and ran away. And she climbed a wall to get away from the suspect."
Detectives say it appears the suspect was attempting to kidnap the teenager with the intent to sexually assault her.
Women at the Metrolink station told Eyewitness News they're concerned about this recent attack.
"Yeah, it does concern me," said commuter Cody Burskey. "I'll be very careful when I'm out walking, but I can't hide all the time. I know there's problems across the street, over there, too."
Police are warning women to walk in pairs at night and be aware of their surroundings.
"And if you see a naked guy out there, there should be a clue that something's going on," said Detective Fesperman. "But, I mean, in this case something's definitely out of the norm for this to happen, for somebody to be driving around naked like that."
Investigators say the suspect was driving a dark gray 2005-2008 Nissan Sentra with blue paper plates, chrome rims, and tinted windows.
"All we know is we have a male, white. He's about 5'9", 150 pounds, about 49 years of age. He has black hair. He has some tattoos on his right shoulder," said Fesperman. "He was fully nude and was chasing her down the street, which is very unusual."
Police are asking for the public's help in finding the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD Devonshire Division at (818) 832-0633.
