Police are investigating after a woman reported that a stranger assaulted and raped her after he found her sleeping in a downtown St. Paul parking ramp.

The 46-year-old woman went to the InterContinental Hotel for help about 5 a.m. April 16 and an employee called 911 for her.

She reported that she had missed curfew at Higher Ground, the homeless shelter in downtown St. Paul, and was sleeping in the sixth-floor elevator lobby at Capital City Plaza Parking Ramp, 50 E. Fourth St., that morning, according to a police report.

The woman was awakened by a stranger punching her in the face, said Sgt. Mike Ernster, a St. Paul police spokesman, on Monday. He covered her face with a sweatshirt and told her not to look at him or he would kill her. The woman fought back, but the man continued to punch her in the face, Ernster said.

The man raped the woman and again threatened her harm if she looked at him, and she heard him leaving down a stairwell, Ernster said.

The woman’s face had numerous bruises and cuts on it, and her face, hands and clothing were bloody from the beating, Ernster said. She was taken to a hospital for treatment and for a sexual assault exam for evidence to be collected.

A detailed description of the suspect was not available. Investigators are looking to see whether there is surveillance footage from the area.