LAGUNA NIGEL (CBS) — A man who attacked a Laguna Nigel woman while she was out on a walk could be the same man who tried to rape a woman Jan. 22, a sheriff’s spokesman said Wednesday.

The attack on La Paz Road occurred about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday near Kings Road, when the suspect jumped out of some bushes and grabbed a 20-something from behind, Jim Amormino said.

The woman fought back, kicking the man between the legs and eventually repelling him, he said.

A similar attack occurred on Jan. 22 on Alicia Parkway near Aliso Hills Drive. That suspect is described as a Latino with a “mullet” hairdo — short on the top and sides and long in the back. He was about 5 feet 7 inches and about 155 pounds.

The victim in Tuesday’s attack said she could not be sure that her attacker was the same one, based on a previous sketch, Amormino said.

The physical description in both attacks is roughly the same.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)