Woman uses camera to fight off North Center attacker

Chicago police put out a community alert on a costumed attacker who tried sexually assaulting a woman in the city's North Center neighborhood, but who was fought off with a camera.

The attack occurred at about 3:15 a.m. Sunday in the 2300 block of West Addison Street, police said in the alert.

The victim was walking when the man, wearing a zebra-striped orange and black Halloween costume, grabbed the woman from behind and dragged her into a gangway.

The attacker tried assaulting the woman, but the victim fought back, using her camera she was carrying, police said. The attacker finally fled when the victim's friend came to her aid.

The attacker is described in the alert as a black man, between 27 and 30 years old, about 6 foot 1, weighing 180 pounds with short black hair, brown eyes, a dark complexion and goatee. The man had a cut on the corner of his left eye near his temple that he suffered during the attack.

Anyone with information is asked to call Belmont Area detectives at 312-744-8261.

--Staff report

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