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Manhunt Underway For Attempted Rape Suspect In Brooklyn

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An intense manhunt was under way late Monday for a man who police said knocked a woman to the ground, beat her and tried to rape her in Brooklyn.

As CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, police have been walking up and down 16th Street between 11th Avenue and Prospect Park all day, trying to gather information as the search for the assailant continued.

The attack happened around 3:50 a.m. Sunday on 16th Street between 11th Avenue and Prospect Park.

On the video, police said the man is seen approaching the 34-year-old woman from behind. He then grabs the woman, lifts up her dress and pulls at her underwear before she's knocked to the ground, police said.

The video shows him hit her several times, but she is able to fight him off kicking and punching, police said. The man then is seen fleeeing down 16th Street.

Out came a couple who live on the block and were awoken by the woman's screams.

"She did all the right things," said the woman of the couple. "She was screaming, yelling, kicking, punching -- whatever she needed to do -- and the guy ran off."

They said she was sitting outside their front door calling 911, so they brought her inside.

"She was definitely shaken. She was definitely – you know, but I think she was a very strong, resilient young lady from what I could tell. I think it was a shock. You know, I think she's been living in the neighborhood for a while," he told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck and CBS2's Meg Baker.

"We haven't done anything particularly brave," added the woman of the couple. "We just helped someone who needed some help -- she has already fought him off -- and we just brought her inside so that she could wait for the police."

The attack alarmed other neighbors.

"I heard her screaming, and I looked out and, and she was already on the ground," said Kevin McGarry. "I didn't see the guy."

Others on the block say they have little peace of mind because of other recent crimes.

"This area, you know within two years, has had several cases happen," resident Manli Lin said. "Really scary."

The block is lined with surveillance cameras, and even neighbors who could not help the woman were trying to help catch the assailant. Teddy Colon handed his video of the man running away over to police, and hoped it could help the neighborhood feel safe again.

"It's heartbreaking, to be honest with you," Colon said. "But she was very brave. She fought him vigorously."

The victim refused medical attention.

Police describe the suspect as a white man between the ages of 20 and 30, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds with curly black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt and slacks.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

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