Cops Searching For Man Accused Of Attempted Rape
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD is looking for a man with a criminal past, who's now accused of attacking a woman.
The victim said she was in her building's laundry room when the man tried to rape her.
Police said the incident happened at the Tanya Towers on East 13th Street. Residents told CBS2's Lisa Rozner the suspect moved in some time in the last year.
Police identified him as 43-year-old Julio Mendez and he wears hearing aids in both ears. Investigators released a photo which they said is a mug shot from a previous arrest. A police source told Rozner that Mendez has four prior arrests, including one for attempted murder and another for assault.
The NYPD said Mendez attempted to talk to a 46-year-old female home attendant as she was doing laundry for two wheelchair-bound residents on Saturday at around 11:15 a.m. He persuaded her to follow him outside the room, where he grabbed her by the arm and neck, police added. She resisted and fell and Mendez allegedly covered her mouth and began sexually assaulting her until she screamed and he fled.
This type of violence comes as a shock to some residents.
"The building is extremely safe," Abraham Ruiz said. "We've lived here 35 years and this is the first time anything like this happened in this complex."
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CBS2's Rozner showed his picture to many who live in the building and they were stunned.
"He don't bother nobody," neighbor Juan Rivera said.
"Really? I've been alone in the elevator with him and everything. He was never really friendly, but there was no reason to treat him bad. Sheesh. If I'm not mistaken I thought I saw him at bible study on Wednesday night," neighbor Linda Harris added.
The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment and was released.
Mendez is described as a Hispanic man with an average build, medium complexion, approximately 160 pounds, short black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
