NYPD: Bronx Walgreens Worker Stops Man From Sexually Assaulting Woman Inside Store Bathroom
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Walgreens worker stopped a man who was trying to sexually assault a woman inside the store's bathroom in the Bronx, police said.
The 50-year-old victim was getting out of the bathroom at a Walgreens on White Plains Road just before 3:45 p.m. Thursday when police said the suspect pushed her back inside.
He knocked her to the ground, covered her mouth and tried to take off her pants, according to police.
The worker heard the victim screaming for help and pulled the suspect off of her, police said. The suspect ran off on White Plains Road towards East 239th Street.
"I was shocked because it could have been me right, could have been anybody," Sheneca Nelson told CBS2's Jessica Layton.
"That's incredible, it happened here in Walgreens in the middle of the day -- just shows how sometimes unsafe we are," Randy Kearse added.
The unsuspecting woman was over powered and violently shoved back into the restroom. Thankfully a store manager heard the screams as the suspect tried to pull down the victim's pants. He burst in and pulled the bad guy away.
A sign posted Friday said the restroom is out of order. The door appeared to have been dusted for the perpetrator's prints.
Police sources said they have the suspect on video running out of the store 9 minutes after he walked in.
Walgreens wouldn't answer CBS2's questions, or allow an interview with the courageous employee, but customers couldn't stop singing his praises.
"He's a hero indeed," Allie Berry said.
"He's an angel and thank god he was around," Tracey Cooper added.
The victim was treated at Jacobi Hospital. She described the suspect as having a foul odor.
Anyone with information in regards 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 Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.