Police: Woman Fights Off Attacker In Inwood

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for a suspect after they said a woman fought off an attempted assault in Upper Manhattan.

It happened around 5:40 a.m. Sunday in the area of Broadway and West 215th Street.

Investigators say surveillance video shows the suspect at the Inwood 207th Street station moments before he started stalking a 34-year-old woman, who was walking home from the train.

The victim told police he followed her for blocks up to 215th Street before coming up behind her and reaching one hand under her skirt and putting his other hand over her mouth. But police said the woman screamed and got away.

She then ran towards her apartment building, but police said the man continued to follow her. Police said she was able to fight him off and when she ran into the building, the door locked behind her.

The suspect then fled the scene.

"Always trying to be careful. I'm always with my daughter trying to be really vigilant and careful," a resident named Celia told CBS2's Natalie Duddridge. "Always go where a lot of people are around."

"If I feel somebody next to me, I try to cross to the other side," said resident Wendy Gonzalez. "But I don't use cell phone, I don't use the music."

Police don't believe the suspect and victim knew each other, which is all the more frightening for subway rider Carla Toconas, who said it almost happened to her.

"I just noticed he was following me and then I made it to a salon," she said. "There was a lot of people there, he couldn't go in because then obviously it would be awkward."

Police describe the suspect as a black man, 6' tall, 150 pounds and partially bald. He was seen wearing a black T-shirt and grey pants.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

In:
• Inwood