Police: Suspect sought in north Phoenix sexual assault

PHOENIX (FOX 10) - Police say a suspect remains on the loose after a woman was sexually assaulted in north Phoenix.

According to Phoenix police, officers responded to an animal clinic near Cave Creek Road and Claire Drive at 3:45 p.m. on March 28 for reports of a man who was exposing and fondling himself near the business and a daycare.

"She confronted him immediately," said Teresa Steen with Amigo Animal Clinic. "That's when they had words. Then he jumped the fence and took off."

No suspect was found, but later that day at 8:30 p.m., a woman called police to say that she had been strangled from behind and sexually assaulted. The woman told police she believed the person who assaulted her was the same man who was seen exposing himself in the area hours earlier.

"We're kind of all in a state of shock of how brutal the crime was, and yet, we're grateful that there were no children involved," said Jo Clute, owner of Small People Daycare, which is located next door to the Amigo Animal Clinic.

The suspect is described by workers as a white man, six feet tall, with brown hair and a brown beard. However, police are working with the victim to come up with a composite sketch of the suspect. The victim told co-workers that the suspect had shoulder-length brown hair and a full brown beard, and is believed to be homeless.

Police say a sex crimes unit is investigating.