Police Share Video Of Attempted Rape Suspect In The Bronx
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A mother was attacked as she walked into her Bronx apartment building. Police are now asking for the public's help in the search for the suspect.
On Thursday, CBS2's Tara Jakeway spoke with the victim's brother, who was at a loss for words, still trying to process what happened inside his own home. But he did have one thing to say to the NYPD.
"I hope you get him, I guess," he said.
"Him," police said is the man captured on surveillance video walking down Elliot Place in Mount Eden. He followed a 27-year-old woman into her apartment, slammed her up against a wall and attempted to rape her. At around 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday, the woman's aunt heard her cry for help and scared off the intruder, who fled on foot, police said. The young woman received a slight laceration to her face.
Ramon Rodriguez captured the video on his store's cameras. He owns the Wanda Supermarket, which is actually in the same building where the attack happened. What's most startling, he said, is that it happened at the business' busiest time of day.
"Oh, very bad, very bad, because I think about my daughter. That's why I let the police take the video," Rodriguez said. "My son I have here working. My daughter sometimes comes here to open the store with me and I'm scared."
Ivelisse Flores lives in the same building and has always had her own security routine, but said she's never felt unsafe.
"You gotta be looking out for yourself. If you come from outside you have to look back, check who's around," Flores said. "This is the first time, because I've lived here 40 years, never heard about that."
A group of tenants gathered outside the building to look at the video and said they're now on the lookout for the suspect.
"I'm surprised it really happened because everyone around here is like family. We all know each other," a resident named "Doris" said.
The young victim's 19-year-old brother, who did not want to give his name, said he appreciates that his neighbors are on the lookout for the man responsible, but hopes the suspect takes responsibility, himself.
"Just go to jail, do the time. That's it," he said.
The suspect was last seen wearing a black hat, white sneakers and orange pants.
The victim's brother said his sister is a stay-at-home mom. Her 9-year-old son and 2-month-old baby were in the apartment at the time of the attack.
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 (74682), logging onto the Crime stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enterings TIP577.