Chicago woman wards off attack by using pepper spray

A woman who was attacked as she got out of a cab early Monday morning said her pepper spray saved her from further harm.
Chicago police said they were looking for a man in connection with the attempted sexual assault of a woman in the Lakeview area early Monday morning. The attacker was described as a male white Hispanic, between 25 and 30 years old with short hair combed back and a medium complexion.
NBC5's Anna Davlantes reported that the victim, identified as "Elizabeth," spoke out about the incident, she said in the hopes it would help others. The victim said she used pepper spray to fend off the attacker."I'm like, 'Oh my God!,'" she said. "I start spraying my mace everywhere and he just takes off. So, luckily, thank God, I had that in my hand."
According to an alert from Belmont Area detectives, the woman was walking to her home in the 500 block of West Briar Place about 2 a.m. when a man threw her to the ground and tried to sexually assault her.Elizabeth showed the scrapes and cuts she received after being thrown to the ground by the attacker, but said she knew it could have been much worse.The victim said she left her job at a bar at 2 a.m., got in a cab, and when it pulled away, the man attacked her."He came out of nowhere," Elizabeth said. "All of the sudden, I'm attacked from behind and pushed down."Police said it has been a long time since they have heard of a victim fending off an attack using pepper spray."She was very courageous, and I give her a lot of credit for doing that," said Chicago police Sgt. Debra DeYoung.Elizabeth urged everyone to buy a can of pepper spray and have it at the ready."Go and buy mace," she said. "When you have it, and you get out and you know you're going to be outside alone, physically have it in your hand ready. Because if I hadn't had it ready, it would have been in my bag --what's the use of having it?"
Davlantes reported that police said they hoped someone would have information on the case. There have been attacks in the area with a similar description, but currently, there wasn't enough information to link them.Anyone with information is asked to contact Belmont Area detectives at 312-744-8261.
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