Woman Doctor Attacked in Office

Police Tuesday have released a surveillance photo of a man suspected of attacking and attempting to sexually assault a female doctor, who was able to fight him off, at her office in a Lakeview hospital.

The doctor was alone in her office at St. Joseph Hospital, on the 2900 block of North Commonwealth Avenue about 6:40 p.m. Monday, when a man came in asking for directions to another office, according to police News Affairs Officer Gabrielle Lesniak.

The man, armed with a knife, demanded money, grabbed the doctor placed the weapon to her throat and forced her to the floor, attempting to sexually assault her.

“She put up a good fight and managed to fight back,” Lesniak said.

During the struggle, the suspect stabbed the doctor in the thigh and punched her. The doctor was able to disarm her attacker and in the process he suffered cuts to one or both palms of his hands. Police are describing the cuts as noticeable defensive wounds.

The offender broke off the attack and fled the office with the doctor’s cell phone but not before removing her SIM card and leaving it in the office, Lesniak said.

The incident is being investigated as an attempted criminal sexual assault.

The suspect is described as a black male, between 20 and 30 years old, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10, 145 to 160 pounds last seen wearing a black and white checkered or plaid shirt and blue jeans, police said. he was also carrying a dark-colored, single-strap backpack.

Belmont Area detectives are investigating.