The Oxford Police Department is searching for information regarding an attempted assault and kidnapping.

In a news release, OPD said that a woman was grabbed from behind while walking east on Van Buren Avenue on Oct. 20 at approximately 8 p.m. The victim told police that the assailant was a white male,  approximately 5’11,” who was wearing a dark colored zip-up jacket, a shirt either orange or red in color, khaki pants and a light tan Costa baseball cap with a light blue Costa symbol. 

The victim fought the attacker off and ran to a nearby residence to call 911. The suspect fled the scene, heading west on Van Buren Avenue towards the Gertrude C. Ford Center parking lot.

Upon entering the lot, the attacker got into a newer model white car and headed north towards West Jackson Avenue.

According to OPD, several cars are seen on surveillance footage also leaving the Ford Center lot between 7:45 and 8:10 p.m. Individuals in the lot during that time frame are being asked to contact the department. Crimestoppers has offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact OPD Investigator Shane Fortner at 662-232-2400 or sfortner@oxfordpolice.net.