HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police have charged a 47-year-old man with attempted first-degree sexual assault for allegedly attacking a woman on Mamalahoa Highway in Kona on Jan. 18.

Jose Zepeda Anguiano was arrested yesterday evening at the Kona airport after security personnel detained him as he was about to depart on a flight to California, police said.

A week ago Big Island police asked for the public's help in identifying and locating a suspect in the case who authorities identified only as "Jose."

Tips from the public led police to Zepeda Anguiano's workplace, but police were unable to locate him. Police notified officials at the Kona airport after receiving information the man they sought was about to flee the island.

Zepeda Anguiano was charged today with attempted first-degree sexual assault, and was being held at the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The woman involved in the case told police she was driven to an area along Mamalahoa Highway where the attempted assault took place. She gave police a description of the van the man was driving along with the license plate, police said.