Man Raped Woman In Flatiron Bar Restroom Stall, Police Say
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police released surveillance video Monday night of a suspect in the rape of a 23-year-old woman in the women's restroom at a Flatiron District bar this past weekend.
As CBS2's Weijia Jiang reported, surveillance video showed the suspect casually strolling down the street – minutes after he allegedly raped the woman at the Turnmill Bar, at 119 E. 27th St. between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue South, on Saturday evening.
The attack happened around 7:45 p.m. Saturday, police said.
Police said the woman was in the ladies' room, and when she opened the door to the toilet stall, the suspect was waiting for her.
He allegedly pushed her back into the stall, grabbed her by the throat, and raped her, police said.
The suspect ran off, and the victim was rushed to North Shore-LIJ Lenox Hill Healthplex for treatment and evaluation, police said.
Man Raped Woman In Flatiron Bar Restroom Stall, Police Say
At the bar on Monday night, two young women could not make sense of the crime.
"That's terrible and terrifying," said Alyssa Nejmeh of the East Village.
"Especially if you're with friends or family, you don't expect something like that to happen," said Lindsay DiMichael of Astoria, Queens.
The suspect was described as a white male between about 45 and 55 years old, standing 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 150 to 175 pounds, with brown hair.
He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black shirt and distinctive black-framed glasses, police said.
At the bar Monday night, patrons were looking out for the man.
"I definitely will be conscious of that and maybe go with someone to the bathroom, or you know, walk around with friends, and never just be by yourself," Nejmeh said.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
