Police: Man Sexually Assaulted 13-Year-Old Girl In Queens Elevator
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police Tuesday evening were searching for a suspect who allegedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in a Queens public housing development.
The man approached the girl in the South Jamaica Houses development around 7:30 a.m. this past Sunday, and followed her into the elevator, police said. He sexually assaulted the girl in the elevator, police said.
Police: Man Sexually Assaulted 13-Year-Old Girl In Queens Elevator
When they reached the girl's floor, she screamed as the suspect ran off, police said.
The suspect was described as a black male between the ages of 20 and 25, around 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black and white T-shirt, and a black and white baseball cap.
Police have released a surveillance video of the suspect.
"Ain't no safety around here," a woman said. "You see all these kids out here? We've got to sit out here with them. You call that safe?"
Residents said such types of crimes seem to be happening in the area far too often.
"You can't even let the kids walk to the incinerator and throw something out the incinerator, because somebody might be hiding behind the stairs," the woman said.
"I've got six grandchildren I'm taking care of, and it's a shame," another woman said.
Residents also complained that just about anyone can walk off the street into the buildings.
'"The door stays unlocked all the time. They fix it, they break it," the grandmother said.
Residents said they had seen the suspect wanted by police in the area before, but do not believe he lives in the development.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers Web site, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
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