MCSO: Woman sexually assaulted in East Valley wash

APACHE JUNCTION, AZ - Deputies are searching for a man they say attacked a woman, sexually assaulting her in a wash near 96th Street and Broadway Tuesday.

Officers said around noon, the woman was walking through the wash that backs up to several homes when a man approached her.

She claims he had a gun and attacked.

Deputies describe the suspect as a white male in his 20s to 30s, wearing a black shirt. They said he has a tattoo on his right forearm, and was carrying a black handgun.

Deputies flooded the area and set up a perimeter. They used dogs and a helicopter, but did not locate the suspect.

"We are going to talk to whoever we can talk to to get as much information as we can, we are going to continue talking with her and get a sketch perhaps, and go from there," Maricopa County Sheriff Department Sgt. Brandon Jones said. "We are asking for the public's help on this to locate that gentleman."

The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.