Woman Assaulted On North End Street

BOSTON -- Police in Boston are looking for a man they said sexually assaulted a woman in the city's North End neighborhood on Monday.

The female victim told police that a man grabbed, dragged into a park and sexually assaulted her near Charter Street at about 8 a.m. Monday. The attack occurred in the middle of a snowstorm.

"They said that she screamed, he grabbed her and tried to bring her inside the park. She screamed and then she got away," said North End resident Angela Gaurino.

Police said Monday's attack resembles a July 13, 2007, sexual assault, and the cases could be connected.

"I couldn't believe it happened again. A detective came to my house in July telling me to watch out, that there was someone assaulting women -- that was in July. And now it is happening again in January," said Melissa, a bartender in the neighborhood. "I started to get more comfortable again, and six months later ... what can you do?"

Police said the woman described the assailant as a light-skinned Hispanic or white man between 25 and 30 years old, about 6 feet tall with short hair and a medium build who was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

On Tuesday, police were handing out fliers warning residents about the attacks.

"Don't walk alone. Ideally, walk with co-workers, friends, family -- what have you. Carry a cell phone at all times, and the big thing is to trust your instincts," said Boston police Officer Jamie Kenneally.

Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-494-TIPS.