BOSTON -- A Fall River man accused of abducting and sexually assaulting a woman in that city earlier this week is suspected in a similar attack in March, police said Thursday.

A 66-year-old woman said she was walking on Bradford Avenue near Bay Street on March 21, when a Hispanic man grabbed her and tried to force her into an older model gray or tan vehicle, police said.

The woman was able to get away from the man by kicking him and hitting him in the face with a rock, police said.

Earlier this week, a 58-year-old Fall River woman was dragged into a car from her home, brought to another location and sexually assaulted.

"This attack is one of the worst acts of violence in recent memory," Chief Daniel Racine said of this week's attack. "The assault and abduction of this victim is disturbing and shocking, even to seasoned investigators."

Angel Cruz, 38, was arrested and charged with kidnapping, aggravated rape, assault with a dangerous weapon and intimidating a witness.

Fall River investigators noted the similarities in the descriptions of the incidents, and Cruz was later identified as the attacker in the March incident, police said.

Police have requested an arrest warrant on charges of kidnapping and assault and battery on a person over the age of 60 in connection with the March incident.