Police are searching for a suspect after a woman was sexually assaulted inside an apartment building in the city’s St. James Town neighbourhood.

A 52-year-old woman allegedly noticed a man loitering in the basement of her building in the area of Howard and Parliament streets around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.

She then made her way to the elevator. The suspect allegedly followed her into the elevator, displayed a handgun and directed the woman to leave the elevator.

The woman was then forced to a stairwell where the man sexually assaulted her. He fled the scene through the front lobby.

Police have released security video from the time of the incident.

Police said the man is black, 20 to 25 years old, five-foot-nine and has a medium build. He was wearing black jeans, a grey hooded sweater, a grey vest, dark toque, tan shoes and was carrying a red knapsack.

According to police, a male with a similar description was seen loitering in a building near Isabella and Jarvis around 2 p.m. on Sunday. Authorities were called to the scene but the suspect had left the area by the time they arrived.

“I would ask members of the public who reside in the downtown area to pay special attention to anyone matching this description, loitering in apartment buildings or in stairwells,” Det.-Sgt. Joanne Rudnick with the Toronto police Sex Crimes Division said.

The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact police and being asked not to approach him as police believe he is armed and dangerous.