NYPD: Masked man broke into Brooklyn apartment, raped and drugged woman with infant son nearby

CYPRESS HILLS, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Police are searching for a man they said broke into a woman's apartment in Brooklyn, drugged and raped her -- all while the woman's infant son was home.

The NYPD said it happened in the Cypress Hill section at about 4:30 p.m. Monday.

The 21-year-old woman told officers that the man -- who was wearing a ski mask and gloves -- somehow gained access to her apartment, grabbed her and sexually assaulted her.

"We have a woman, about 3:30 p.m., washing dishes. She has a 9-month-old child playing in the living room. She goes into the bathroom and comes back out. Apparently a male grabs her from behind, puts some kind of drug to her, she says it smells like alcohol, puts her unconscious," said Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce, NYPD.

She said the attacker, at some point, covered her mouth with a cloth that contained a chemical substance. The next thing she remembers is waking up in her bra and underwear, with her hands and ankles tied together with duct tape.

"She is laying on the floor. Child was still there, child was then moved to a different part of the house, we believe the perp did that," Boyce said.

The baby was not injured.

She called 911 and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

As news spread down the block, this next-door neighbor told Eyewitness News that the victim's husband believes the attacker is a family friend of 11 years.

Detectives do not know exactly how the man got into her apartment, and no description has been released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD's Brooklyn Special Victims Squad.