Police: Woman Punched In Face, Sexually Assaulted In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Queens woman endured a horrific attack earlier this week. She was punched and then sexually assaulted.
Police were able to trace the suspect movements to an area in Flushing, blocks away from the assault. They hope surveillance video will help track him down, CBS2's Aundrea Cline-Thomas reported.
The man police are looking for is described as 20 to 25 years old and 5-foot-5 with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket with a fur-lined hood and dark backpack.
He's wanted for punching a 56-year-old woman in the face repeatedly and then sexually assaulting her.
Needless to say, residents in the community where the startling attach happened are on edge.
"I feel like scared. This is around my neighborhood. It's horrifying. I feel bad for her," Flushing resident Wei Zhang said.
The victim was approached near 165th Street and Sanford Avenue at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, police said.
"I saw police around here yesterday, but I didn't hear about the story," said Won Sohn, who works nearby.
Residents said they are being watchful and taking their usual precautions.
"I don't walk around at night. I try not to walk, even though I work. I finish at 7 o'clock. I just come to house right away and try not to go out," resident Sheila Lim said.
The victim was treated and released from a nearby hospital.
Detectives were able to track the suspect's movements to a corner at 162nd and Sanford, but they need the public's help identifying him.
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting them to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
