A Pleasantville man is jailed on charges of kidnapping and attempted aggravated sexual assault in an attack on an Absecon storeowner.
Police were called to the downtown business district at about 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Dashawn U. Cooper, 37, entered the unnamed business and attacked the woman who owns the store, according to the report.
The woman broke free and sought refuge in a nearby business, but Cooper chased her and locked the door behind him, police said.
He launched a vicious assault, including trying to sexually assault the woman, who he did not know, police said. The attack was unprovoked.
Officers forced their way into the front door of the business and confronted Cooper, freeing the victim.
She was treated for significant injuries sustained during the attack.
Cooper faces charges including first-degree kidnapping, second-degree attempted aggravated sexual assault and second-degree aggravated assault, along with third-degree charges of criminal restraint and criminal mischief.
He is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending a detention hearing.
Cooper has two pending criminal trespassing cases from last month, including one out of Absecon and one out of Atlantic City, court records show.
He also has two theft by unlawful taking cases out of Atlantic City from last year. He was released on summonses in those previous cases.
