Detectives are searching for a man who raped a woman as she walked home from work early Sunday morning near the intersection of Jones Road and Mills Road in northwest Harris County.

Investigators said the woman was walking along Mills Road around 6 a.m. when she spotted a man walking on the opposite side of the street in the opposite direction.

Detectives said the woman told them the man suddenly crossed the street, punched her in the face several times, threw her into a ditch and raped her.

Investigators said the woman told them she was beaten to the point she blacked out for a short time. Detectives said the woman remembered regaining consciousness and biting her attacker on the right hand so hard he screamed and ran off into a wooded area.

Sheriff's detectives told Local 2 Investigates the rapist may have a deep bite mark on his right index finger and hand.

"I would never imagine anything like that happening around here," said Nick Center, who lives in area.

"Scary to think about," said Becky Thayers, another resident of the area. "I live by myself, literally right around the corner from here."

"I couldn't imagine the low-life that would stoop to that level to do something. It's unforgivable," said Center.

Deputies said the woman dialed 911 from her cellphone after her attacker ran off.

Sheriff's deputies and Precinct 4 deputy constables raced to the area and set up a perimeter.

Detectives said they also brought in Department of Public Safety troopers to aid in the search but the man was never found.

Detectives said the woman was then taken to Cy-Fair hospital for treatment and a sexual assault examination.

Investigators said the woman described her attacker as a clean-shaven African-American man in his late 20s with a muscular build. He was between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet tall, wearing a gray sweatshirt with a hood he kept pulled over his head.

If you have any information about this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.