Search Continues For Suspect Wanted In Violent Brooklyn Attack
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Brooklyn were still hunting Tuesday for a man accused of severely beating a woman before he raped her.
The attack happened around 3 a.m. Monday in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The confrontation was so violent it left the 52-year-old victim hospitalized and missing two teeth, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
"Got beat up real bad," said Rootsie Butters, a friend of the victim. "If that guy was caught out here, he would be shreds, that's what I know."
According to police, the man approached the woman as she walked to a store on Putnam Avenue. He then ordered her to follow him, threatening to shoot her, cops said. It's not clear whether the suspect mutually had a gun.
He brought her behind a building on Lefferts Place, forced her toward some outdoor stairs that lead to a basement, shoved his hand down her throat and then sexually assaulted her, investigators said.
The victim is recovering in a hospital.
Neighbors say because the building is vacant and there are no cameras and plenty of trees, the corner is a hotbed for drug and suspicious activity.
"They know that they can get away with it over here," said Ray Robinson, who has lived on the block for 52 years. "Drugs, prostitution, whatever it is that they're not supposed to be doing, they do it over there.
"We've been complaining to the owner of the building that they need to do something," Robinson said.
"That area back there is completely closed off," said Cathleen Crothan, a Bed-Stuy resident. "So that's kind of scary because you can't see it from the road. I'm sure you wouldn't be able to hear anything."
Police released new surveillance video of the suspect Tuesday morning. He is describe as a black man in his late 30s with a muscular build. He may have bite marks on his right hand.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
