A woman was sexually assaulted near 23rd and I streets NW Wednesday evening, according to a GW Alert sent at about 9 p.m.

A woman reported to authorities at 8:40 p.m. that she had been assaulted. The suspect was described as a thin white man in his late 50s wearing dark clothing. The man, who is 5-feet-11-inches, has a long black beard and was last seen headed westbound on I Street toward the Foggy Bottom Metro, according to the alert.

Officers from both the GW and Metropolitan police departments were canvassing the surrounding area, the alert states.

MPD spokeswoman Alaina Gertz said police officers were dispatched at 8:54 p.m. to respond to a report of a sexual assault. She said the survivor reported the crime at a local hospital but declined to say which one.

Gertz said she did not know how many officers responded but said they arrived on the scene at 9:07 p.m. She said the assault was reported to have taken place on the 800 block of 22nd Street NW.

A University spokeswoman did not immediately return a request for comment.