Man on scooter sexually assaults, tries to rape woman on Manhattan street
UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Police are searching for a man who tried to rape a woman on Manhattan's Upper West Side, and police are hoping surveillance video will lead to an arrest.
Authorities say a 33-year-old woman was walking in front of 137 West 69th Street just before 1 a.m. Wednesday when a suspect on a scooter approached the victim from behind.
That's when they say the man grabbed the woman and dragged her to a secluded area, sexually assaulted her, and tried to rape her.
It's not clear what stopped the suspect, but he took off on his scooter and fled in an unknown direction.
He was seen in the video running away just as the victim stumbled back up the stairs.
She suffered scratches and cuts on her body.
EMS responded and treated her on the scene.
Police describe the suspect as approximately 20 years old. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with 'NY' printed on the front, dark colored pants, and white sneakers with red trim.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.
The incident has many on high alert, especially after this past weekend, when a man tackled and raped a woman early Saturday at West 82nd Street and Central Park West.
Then, an hour later, police say the same man forcibly grabbed another woman on the Lower East Side.
He's also linked to another assault back in May.
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