Watch CBS News

Search On For Suspect In Reported Robbery, Attempted Sex Assualt On LES

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Saturday were asking for help from the public in finding a man who allegedly robbed and tried to sexually assault a woman in her Lower East Side building.

Around 11 p.m. this past Wednesday, the 41-year-old woman was walking into her building when she saw the suspect trying to get buzzed in, police said. The woman let the man in, and checked her mail while the suspect hid in the stairwell, police said.

The woman then came inside, and the suspect allegedly confronted her in the stairwell. He demanded that she perform a criminal sexual act on him, and when she refused, he grabbed her, police said.

When the woman began to scream, the suspect let her go, grabbed her pocketbook, and emptied its contents onto the floor, police said. The suspect took the woman's cell phone and wallet and ran off, police said.

The victim refused medical attention at the scene, police said.

The suspect was described as a black male in his late teens or early 20s, standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds, police said. Police have released a surveillance video of the suspect.

Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers Web site, or text tops to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.