A man was arrested Monday night in the attempted rape of an employee at a Mr. Smoothie store in Rockville.



Yera Basnueva, 31, of Silver Spring, is charged with attempted first-degree rape and second-degree assault.



Authorities say Basnueva entered the Mr. Smoothie store located at 33 Maryland Ave. in Rockville shortly after 9:20 a.m. Monday and began a conversation with an employee there. After about half an hour, he asked to use the bathroom, but when he exited the restroom, his pants were down, and he grabbed the employee and pushed her onto the store counter, police said.



He then tried to sexually assault the victim and punched her in the face, police said, but the victim punched and kicked him before running from the store.



The incident was captured on store surveillance, and detectives developed Basnueva as a suspect. He was arrested near his home.



Basnueva is being held without bond.