McLEAN, Va. - Police are seeking the public's help in locating a man who brutally attacked a woman in her McLean-area apartment, leaving an entire Fairfax County (web | news) neighborhood on edge.

The woman said a man attacked her inside her home in the Commons of McLean Apartments near Tysons Corner.

The 24-year-old victim was sleeping on the sofa about 3:15 p.m. when the intruder broke a window to get into the apartment in the 7300 block of Dartford Drive, police believe. The victim was awakened by a man pulling on her leg; she struggled with him as he pulled her to the ground and tried to take her clothes off, police said. The intruder fled when the victim screamed. She was not hurt, but the daylight attack has residents, like Shilpa Pabba, worried for their safety.

"You think it is a safe neighborhood but actually you see that you don't feel that safe anymore," said Pabba.

Police handed out a flier of the incident, which describes the suspect as a Latino male in his upper 20s, around 5 feet 6 inches tall and around 180 pounds. He had curly, shoulder-length, black hair and a light mustache. He was wearing a black and white athletic jacket with stripes, blue jeans and white shoes, police said.

A clerk at a nearby convenience store immediately recognized the suspect when police showed her the flier. In fact, she has had a couple of run-ins with him and hopes he is caught soon.

"He was in here the night before and he had assaulted somebody else...and it's got me scared because I have to be in here at night by myself," the clerk said.

As a result, some resident at the apartment complex believe the management should beef up security. In fact, ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 reporter Stephen Tschida says the doors to the buildings were open.

Eleanor Pickering, 88, says a few weeks ago she got inside her unit just in time after what she describes as a frightening run-in with a man lingering in the hall.

"He was going to break in. I know as I opened my door he was going to follow me," said Pickering.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), on the Web at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, by text-message by typing "TIP187" plus your message to CRIMES(274637), or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

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