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Police: Man Groped, Beat Woman On Busy First Avenue In East Village

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Wednesday were searching for an assailant who they said groped a woman on a busy block in the East Village and then beat her when she confronted him.

Around 1:45 a.m. this past Saturday, police said the man grabbed the 37-year-old woman's buttocks in front of 208 First Avenue between 12th and 13th streets. When she confronted him, he punched her in the face numerous times, police said.

The suspect then ran off north on First Avenue, police said. As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, the woman appeared to go after the man before returning, in a ripped shirt, to gather her belongings.

A couple came over to the woman to see if she was OK.

"It's really upsetting, it's really upsetting," Ivy Colton said.

The suspect was described as a white male between the ages of 20 and 25, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored shirt and blue jeans.

Police have released surveillance photos and video.

Colton has lived in the area for 40 years and said she is dismayed by news of the assault.

"I haven't heard about these things in the neighborhood in a long time, so it's really upsetting," she said.

Other women called the video disturbing.

"I don't want to be in her shoes, and I would probably have a similar reaction if someone squeezed my butt," Rachel Elias said.

"I'm sorry that she got hurt in this matter, but she did a great thing for herself," another woman told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck. "You've got to watch your surroundings."

Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS or (888) 57-PISTA for Spanish, visit the Crime Stoppers website or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.

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