Man attempted to rape Dallas woman outside apartment complex

Detectives are searching for a man they said smiled at a woman before trying to rape her at a Dallas apartment complex on Sunday.

The attacker can be seen in Sunday morning surveillance video from the Swiss Air Apartments on Swiss Avenue in Old East Dallas. Police believe he was trying to get into the locked complex when he spotted the victim walking from the parking lot and tackled her.

The victim told police he tried to rape her -- but was stopped by a Good Samaritan who happened to be walking by.

“We're thankful and obviously the victim is thankful for his involvement and we now look to the community and employ them to take a look at the video and take a look at the individual. He had to have been seen by other people walking that night,” said Dallas PD Maj. Max Geron.

Police only have a vague description of the suspect. They said the things that really stand out were his black and white backpack and bright red shoes. He also may have been wearing glasses.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Dallas PD Sex Assault Unit at 214-671-3584.