NYPD: Suspect slammed woman's head against tree near Central Park Reservoir
NEW YORK -- The search is on for a suspect after a terrifying attack near the Central Park Reservoir.
As CBS2's Alecia Reid reports, this suspect should be considered dangerous. His victim was simply walking inside the park when she was attacked.
On Thursday, just before 6 a.m., police say a 55-year-old woman who was walking along the reservoir was assaulted.
Officials say she was by herself when a man walked up to her, engaged in a conversation, then grabbed her and started pounding her head against a tree several times.
The man took off on a Citi bike, heading eastbound on the 86th Street Transverse wearing a blue jacket.
On Saturday, police released a sketch of the man wanted in this attack, with an identifying blemish to the left side of his face.
Some parkgoers told CBS2 they're on edge.
"It's scary, but it's just reality," Sherri Edwards said.
"I've seen a lot of cops around lately in the subways and in their patrol cars, but at the same time, something has changed in society where people do not fear the repercussions of violent acts, so whatever that cause is, we gotta get to it," Upper West Side resident Brian McLane said.
The woman was taken to a local hospital and treated. She is expected to be OK.
Police are asking for the public's help in finding her attacker.
Anyone with any 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). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.