Tulsa Police Search For Suspect In Sexual Assault Of 17-Year-Old

Police are trying to find a man they say brazenly ambushed and assaulted a 17-year-old girl in her west Tulsa home last week.

Tulsa Police said the man surprised the teen by hiding in her backyard.

It happened Friday afternoon, in the area of West 51st Street and 33rd West Avenue, when the girl was home sick from school.

Her dog was barking at the back door and she thought it wanted out.

When she opened the door, the suspect punched her in the face, knocking her backwards. The suspect continued to attack the victim, knocking her to the floor and striking her repeatedly. When the victim tried to crawl away, the suspect began striking her in the back of the head with a glass and she passed out.

Police said, when she woke up, the suspect was gone.

Her clothes and panties were ripped and there was evidence she'd been sexually assaulted.

"It could happen to any of us and we just need to be aware and be on the lookout," said Brenda Teehee, who lives nearby.

Some people in the neighborhood told police they remembered seeing the guy walking around, but no one knows him.

"We don't know if he had been targeting her or if he was looking to commit a burglary on an unoccupied residence, and when she opened the door, it's a target of opportunity," said Sergeant Mark Mears, with  TPD's sex crimes unit.

The victim told police she does not know the suspect.

Sex crimes detectives say this case is scary, because it was a violent rape by a complete stranger.

"He was very violent and angry, obviously, from the beginning," Mears said.

The suspect is described as skinny, about six feet tall in his mid-twenties to early thirties, with short, balding brown hair, sunken in cheeks and a 5 o'clock shadow.

The victim told police he smelled like baby powder.

The suspect was wearing a black hoodie with the hood up and dark pants.

If you recognize the man in the sketch or if you have any information about this incident, you can call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS. You can also text a tip to CRIMES (274637). Begin your message with "Tip918."