GUILDERLAND — A roadblock was set up outside of Altamont Wednesday morning as Guilderland Police searched for a man whom they say attacked a Danvers Street woman.

Guilderland Police Detective John Tashjian told The Enterprise that, at 9:43 Tuesday morning, they received a call that a young woman was assaulted in her home, at 146 Danvers St., just outside the village of Altamont.

A light-skinned African-American or Hispanic male, dressed all in black, came into the house and tried to choke the woman, Tashjian said. At first it was believed that he crawled through a back window, the detective said, but later determined that he didn’t.
"His entry point is unknown," Tashjian said. It is also not known what the suspect was doing there, he said. The suspect did not take anything and did not try to rape the woman, Tashjian said.

The young woman was able to get away from the suspect and run to a neighbor’s house, where she called 911, Tashjian said.

Altamont Police arrived within three minutes, he said, and Guilderland Police, with a police dog, soon followed. The victim did not know if the suspect left on foot or if he drove away in a vehicle, Tashjian said. The area was searched, but the suspect was not found, he said.

Wednesday morning at about 8:30, a roadblock was set up for three hours, on Route 146 near the home.
Police asked drivers questions such as, "Did you see a tall male in his 20’s here yesterday"" and "Did you see a mulatto man wearing all black""

Since people usually drive the same route at the same time of day, police had hoped to find someone with information. They did not, Tashjian said.

Police are now hoping to create a composite sketch of the suspect, based on the young woman’s memory, he said.

Asked if people living in this area should be worried that the suspect is still loose, Tashjian said residents should always lock their doors and be cautious of perpetrators.

Anyone with information is asked to call Guilderland Police at 356-1501.