La Porte PD search for suspect in attempted sexual assault

LA PORTE, TX (KTRK) -- La Porte police are looking for a man who attempted to sexually assault a female employee at a massage parlor.

Police say he walked into that parlor near the corner of Spencer Highway and Underwood, and ordered the woman to a back room.

"As soon as the individual entered the business, he brandished a knife, displayed it to one of the female employees, and forced her to go into a back room where he was attempting to begin a sexual assault episode," says Sgt. John Krueger.

Sgt. Krueger tells us another customer's arrival stopped him in his tracks.

"At that point, the suspect raised the knife to the neck and throat area of the female victim and not only demanded that she maintain her silence, but give him the opportunity to leave."

He walked eastbound toward Underwood.

"Investigators at this time believe it is the same individual that was involved in a sexual assault offense at the same location back on January 23 of this year."

Police say she recognized the man from that day.

"It's very nerve racking because we as our parents are in and out, so it can happen to anyone in any business," says Carrie Smith.

She works at the child care next door.

"My director actually saw the man walk by but didn't get a clear picture of him because we have people walking by all the time."

Police hope to get this guy before he finds another victim.

"We are confident this individual is going to be recognized," Sgt. Krueger says. "Whether they're reading the news or reading the websites, we are confident that someone knows who this individual is. So we're just asking them to step up and imagine if it was a member of their family that had had this assault."

If you recognize the man in the pictures, call La Porte Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division at 281-842-3173.