Rash of sexual assaults in DC this summer

D.C. police are trying to catch a man who sexually assaulted a woman Thursday night.

Investigators said it happened near 17th and P streets, not far from Dupont Circle.

The neighborhood is a bustling community with young professionals and retirees alike.

"People feel safe in this neighborhood," explained Laurette Piculin, who has lived in the area for several years. "Women and men walk around here late at night. I wouldn't be walking around at 3 o'clock in the morning, but around 11 o'clock at night when things are still open, I wouldn't have a problem with it."

However, police said just before 10:30 p.m. Thursday, a woman reported that a man assaulted her and ran away.

"It's just very shocking," said Piculin. "There is a lot of traffic coming up and down the street, a lot of people walking."

It is the latest report of sexual assault in the District this summer. Including this most recent one, there have been six incidents in just the last month.

"I know sexual harassment can happen anywhere, but I wasn't that aware that it was happening at that high number," said Northwest D.C. resident Tony Mendes.

On July 15, a man knocked on a woman's door near 8th Street and Kennedy Street, forced his way in and sexually assaulted her before she was able to kick him off of her. He was seen running away in surveillance video that was released by D.C. police.

On July 8, a man is accused of following someone and exposing himself along Connecticut Avenue at L Street.

On Kennedy Street and 13th Street on July 1, a man forced a woman into an alley and raped her before she was able to fight him off with a knife.

On June 24 at Newport Place and 21st Street between N and O streets, a woman was sexually assaulted just before 11 p.m. by a man seen in surveillance video fleeing the scene.

And at 8 a.m. on June 13, a woman reported being sexually abused by a man caught on security footage at New Hampshire Avenue and M Street.

If you have any information on any of these incidents, D.C. police want to hear from you.