Aurora police searching for man they say tried to sexually assault woman

Aurora police are searching for a man who tried to sexually assault a woman in her apartment complex Monday night, officials said.

A 30-year-old woman said she was doing laundry at her apartment complex's laundry room when she was approached by a man who tried to strike up a conversation with her, according to an Aurora Police Department Facebook post. When she ignored him, he forced her into an apartment and claimed he was armed with a knife. Once in the apartment, which he said was his, he began to beat her and demanded she perform sex acts on him. When the woman realized he did not have a knife, she fought back and was able to escape and call 9-1-1. But by the time police arrived the man had left.

The woman described him as a black man between 30 and 45 years old, around six feet tall with long, black dreadlocks and a gap in both his upper and lower front teeth; he was wearing a dark jacket, white shirt, dark pants and dark hat, police said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Aurora Police at (630) 256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward for tips that lead to an arrest.