DEPUTIES SEEK MAN IN SEXUAL ASSAULT.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Sheriff's detectives are seeking a man on suspicion of smashing the sliding glass door of a home and sexually assaulting a 57-year-old woman early Thursday.

The man was described as in his 20s with a dark complexion and short black hair. He bears a resemblance to a man suspected of raping a 64-year-old woman in a mobile-home park earlier this year, said Sgt. Frank O'Hanlon of the East Valley station of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

``There are some alarming similarities,'' he said. ``While we can't say with certainty, we can say that we have some concern.''

The man broke the glass door of the home at 2000 Pleasant Way about 2:25 a.m. Thursday, waking the woman. When the woman got up to check on the noise, she discovered the man in her living room, sheriff's officials said. The man sexually assaulted her while choking her, sheriff's officials said.

A neighbor called out to the woman and the man fled. Sheriff's officials then were called.

A sheriff's canine patrol was brought in and was able to follow the man's scent to Live Oak Street, but he could not be found.

During the attack, the man suffered an injury on the right side of his head, causing him to bleed, sheriff's officials said.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the sheriff's major crimes unit at [phone].