By Lookout Staff

July 15, 2011 – Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man wanted for sexually assaulting a woman in Santa Monica earlier this month.

On the afternoon of July 4, a woman was groped by a man who blocked her as she tried to get out of her car near Euclid Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, according to Santa Monica Police.

She had just pulled into her carport and had opened her car door, when she was approached by a man who stood between her and the door, police say.

He reached in her car and started groping her breasts and crotch, according to the victim. She managed to get away from him and made it into her apartment.

The suspect left in his car.

The suspect was described as a white or light-skinned Hispanic man with a ruddy complexion, five feet, nine inches tall, weighing 150 pounds.

He was wearing a white baseball cap turned backwards, no shirt, and blue jeans. The victim described him as being very fit, and said he had a tattoo of a woman's face on the left side of his chest, as well as tattoos on his right bicep and on the right side of his abdomen.

He drove away in a newer, shiny, white sport-model Toyota or Honda, the victim told police.

This assault is believed to be unrelated to the sexual assault of a Santa Monica College Student that occurred on July 6, but the investigation is still ongoing, police say.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Hicks at (310) 458-8983, Sergeant Jacob at (310) 458-8460 or the Santa Monica Police Department (24hours) at (310) 458-8495.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME, or submit the tip online at www.wetip.com . You will remain completely anonymous and may be eligible for a reward, up to $1,000.00, if your information leads to an arrest and conviction.

Or, anonymous tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers by either calling (800) 222-TIPS or by visiting their website at www.lacrimestoppers.org . To text an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers; please view their webpage for detailed instructions. If the information leads to an arrest, the tipster is eligible to receive a reward up to $1, 000.