Sexual assault reported in downtown Petaluma

Petaluma police are investigating a report of a downtown sexual assault early Sunday.

A woman, 57, called police Sunday afternoon telling them she’d been assaulted about 1:30 a.m. as she waited for a ride, said Petaluma police Lt. Tim Lyons.

She said she’d been on the sidewalk near B and Fifth streets when a man asked her if she was going to be sleeping in her car, said Lyons. The woman, uncomfortable with the comment, walked a few blocks to her car to wait for an Uber ride because she’d been drinking, and as she opened her car door he approached her again, she told officers.

The man lunged at her repeatedly, grabbing her dress and groping her, as she yelled and attempted to push him away, Lyons said. When the man left, she locked her car until her ride arrived.

Hours later she called police, Lyons said.

She described the man as Hispanic, 180 pounds with a husky build, buzz-cut style hair, clean shaven and freckled. He wore dark clothing and white athletic shoes and spoke without an accent, Lyons said.

Police officers searched the area and are looking at surveillance tapes from nearby businesses. They also are seeking witnesses. Lyons asked anyone with information to call officers at 707-778-4372.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com