Man Sexually Assaults Woman At Penn Square Mall

Police want to find a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a busy mall parking lot. Police say he committed the crime in broad daylight at Penn Square Mall.

The attack happened in west parking lot of the mall around 2 p.m. The mall has guard watchtowers such, but many times there is no one inside. Police say the man followed a woman through the parking lot. The entire time, the woman says she had an uneasy feeling.

"The man ran up, [and] rushed her as she was getting to her car," MSgt. Gary Knight of Oklahoma City Police said. "[He] grabbed her, assaulted her and fled on foot."

Police say the man put his hand up the back of the woman's dress and reached up between her legs. Police say the woman placed her key in between her fingers in order to defend herself, but she was never able to stab her attacker.

"She actually tried to chase him for a short distance but was unable to catch up to him," Knight said.

Penn Square Mall customers weighed in with reaction after learning the news.

"It's scary," customer Lujuana Hayes said. "It's surprising because there's lots of people over there."

4/11/2012 Related Story: Woman Sexually Assaulted In Parking Lot At Penn Square Mall

One mall customer says she tries to do certain things to keep safety at a forefront.

"I try to park close to the front, but that doesn't always work," customer Elaine Anderson said.

Police say parking lots in general can be dangerous. In 2008, a woman was abducted from Penn Square Mall property and raped. In 2010, a woman was stabbed at Penn Square. In 2011, a woman was attacked. Just several weeks ago, a soldier was robbed.

News 9 reached out to Penn Square Mall for comment Wednesday, but the mall would not answer any questions.

A public relations agency working for the mall tells News 9 it is corporate policy that representatives at any level do not give interviews for security related issues. Penn Square Mall is owned by commercial real estate company Simon Property Group.

While the mall is not talking, police are talking as they ask for the public to keep an eye out for the suspect. If you recognize the man in the sketch provided by police, call 911.