WASHINGTON — Prince William County police are searching for a man who tried to strangle and abduct a woman in a parking lot near the Potomac Mills shopping mall Thursday evening.
A 34-year-old Lorton woman told police she had just gotten off work and was standing next to her vehicle located in a parking lot in the area of Potomac Mills Circle and Nazarene Way in Woodbridge, Va., when a man approached her and asked for directions at about 9:30 p.m.
The man then grabbed the woman and began to choke her, police say. There was a struggle and both fell to the ground where the man attempted to strangle the victim.
The man demanded the victim’s car keys and tried to force her into the backseat of a vehicle. After resistance, the suspect fled on foot. A police K-9 unit helped in the search for the suspect, who is still at large.
The woman, whose name has not been released, sustained minor injuries.
Police are searching for a Hispanic male between 20 and 25. He is about 5-foot, 5-inches tall and 150 pounds with a thin build and short black hair. He wore a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, dark-colored pants and a black beanie-style cap at the time of the offense.
Anyone with information can contact the Prince William County’s Crime Solvers tip line at 1-866-411-TIPS.
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