Deputies are searching for a man who attacked a woman in the parking lot of the Graton Resort and Casino early Sunday morning.

The woman was asleep in the passenger seat of her car when the suspect jumped into the driver’s seat around 3:20 a.m. and began to beat her with a metal wrench, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. He struck her in the head, hand and arm, deputies said.

“The suspect was chased away from the casino by security guards who heard the victim screaming, ”the Sheriff’s Office said in a news statement.

Deputies said it appeared the suspect had been watching the car, parked in the casino’s south lot. He was caught on a surveillance video, but heavy fog in the area made it too difficult to identify him, deputies added.

The woman had been at the casino with her boyfriend, who was inside during the attack, according to the Sheriff’s Office. She was taken by ambulance to a hospital where she was treated for her injuries.

No further details were available.

You can reach Staff Writer Eloísa Ruano González at 521-5458 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . On Twitter @eloisanews.