COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) — The search is on for a man in Howard County police say dragged a woman into an empty apartment and raped her.

Police say the suspect forced the victim—who is in her 30s—into a vacant unit at the Columbia Landing Apartments and assaulted and raped her.

Investigators say the woman was able to get away and ran to another apartment for help.

Around 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, a resident in the 8800 block of Tamar Drive, called 911 to a report a woman had come to her door asking for help after being raped.

The victim told detectives a man she didn’t know approached her and was trying to start a conversation. Then he pulled her inside a vacant apartment and allegedly raped and assaulted her. She struggled with him and once the assault was over he got up and walked into a bedroom of the apartment. She ran and tried to get help.

Police have found no evidence of forced entry into the vacant apartment.

The suspect is described as having short dreadlocks, a medium complexion and in his 30’s. He had a medium build and was wearing black sweatpants and no shirt. The victim reports that she recalls the same man in the area of the apartment sometime last week.