Police said man in ski mask entered house, punched woman

COLUMBIA — Police are looking for a suspect in connection with a burglary and assault Sunday night in Columbia.

A 17-year-old woman told investigators a man wearing a black ski mask entered her residence at the 900 block of Moss Street.

She was upstairs when the suspect entered the residence through an unlocked front door about 7 p.m. She shut her bedroom door, but he forced his way in and punched her in the nose, Columbia police said. The suspect tore her pants and the victim fought back, said Columbia police Sgt. Ken Hammond. The suspect then left the house and no items were stolen.

The victim, whose name was not released, was treated and released from the hospital for injuries to her nose.

Hammond said the victim did not know the suspect. She described him as a male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and a black ski mask. Police had not made an arrest Monday and the case was transferred to the Columbia Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit.

Anyone with information can submit a tip online to the CrimeStoppers Web site, 875tips.com, for a reward of up to $1,500 if the information leads to an arrest.