A 56-year-old Colorado man has ben arrested and charged with attacking an 8-year-old girl in her home in the middle of the night.

The Sterling Police Department said Thomas Gallegos has been charged with burglary, assault, attempted kidnapping, and child abuse.

An affidavit says the little girl fought back against Gallegos, a neighbor who had been at the house to help install a washer and dryer the previous weekend, after he blindfolded her and grabbed her out of bed sometime between 1 and 2 a.m. on October 15, KUSA reported.

Gallegos, who was wearing a clown mask, hit the girl on the head and knocked her unconscious then fled, leaving behind the mask and a pair of gloves.

The girl woke up shortly after her assailant left and ran to her mother’s room to tell her what happened.

The attacker also took the child’s phone, which police used to help identify the suspect when they tracked the device. They also used security footage and other evidence to track him down.

Gallegos was arrested on Saturday and is due in court on November 4.

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[Featured image: Thomas Gallegos/Sterling Police Department]