Ithaca Police are investigating a pair of disturbing incidents that may be related.

Detectives first got reports of a sexual assault around 7:20 p.m. Thursday.

They say a woman was walking in the area of Cascadilla and North Geneva Streets when a man walked up behind her and forcibly grabbed her body.

The suspect fled when nearby pedestrians stepped in to help.

Then roughly 20 minutes later, police were called to the 400 block of North Tioga Street, less than a mile away.

A woman walking in the area says a man exposed his genitals before running away.

Both descriptions of the suspect are of a white male, roughly 5' 8", wearing dark colored pants, hooded sweatshirt and a baseball cap.

The incidents are under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Ithaca Police.