Woman's Children Help Ward Off Would-Be Rapist In Washington Heights
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A Manhattan woman and her children fought back and fended off a would-be rapist who crept his way into their home.
The 43-year-old woman's husband went outside to park his car around 5:15 a.m. Wednesday. That's when police said the man entered the apartment near Wadsworth Avenue and West 189th Street in Washington Heights through an unlocked front door.
The victim said the suspect walked right past her 2-year-old granddaughter and 11-year-old son, who were fast asleep. Her 25-year-old daughter was sleeping in her bedroom.
The woman awoke to her dog barking and found the man in her closet.
Police said the suspect threw her onto a bed, pulled her pants down and tried to rape her.
The children heard her screams and came to help.
She told CBS2's Aundrea Cline-Thomas they pleaded with the man to let her go. Her son has a bruise on his side, where the suspect pushed him away.
The victim also suffered bruises on her chest.
The suspect ran off and was last seen on West 188th Street heading toward Amsterdam Avenue.
He's described as a black man, 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, wearing a black jacket, gray hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website, by Tweeting @NYPDTips or by texting a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577.
