Home intruder sexually assaults elderly woman in Northridge, police say

NORTHRIDGE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles Police Department has released a sketch of a wanted man accused of breaking into a Northridge home in the middle of the night and sexually assaulting an elderly woman.

The incident happened at a residence in the 18600 block of Vintage Street around 1 a.m. Wednesday, according to police.

Residents of the quiet Northridge street are shaken by the sexual assault.

"I was shocked because I've been here in this house 24 years, and I haven't really heard anything like this before," said Karina Tasci.

Christine Coe has known the elderly victim for many years. She spoke to her a few hours after the attack.

"First she told me she was OK, she had to go, the police were still there, and I said, 'OK, I'll let you go,'" said Coe. "And then she needed to tell me, she said, 'I got raped.' I thought that's unbelievable."

Coe told Eyewitness News she believes this was not a forced entry.

"He went in through the back sliding glass window. It was open," said Coe.

The suspect left the home in an unknown direction.

Police are examining footage from a surveillance camera at a nearby home. Investigators are hoping someone will recognize the man in the sketch.

The male suspect was described as Hispanic, possibly Middle Eastern, with black hair, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a muscular build, and had his hair in a ponytail.

Officers patrolled the area Thursday night. Neighbors are now working together, making plans to install alarms and video cameras to protect themselves.

"We're going to make sure there are signs up so the next perpetrator, predator actually is what he is, will know that this is a neighborhood that's armed, and we're on the lookout, and we're watching," said Coe.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Det. Kim Fairchild of the LAPD's Special Assault Section Robbery-Homicide Division at (213) 486-6910