Police Identify Suspect Wanted In Upper East Side Robbery, Sex Assault
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have identified a suspect who they said attacked a woman on the Upper East Side.
Gregory Anderson, 32, is wanted for allegedly sexually assaulting and robbing a 36-year-old woman who was walking along East 94th Street Saturday morning.
Investigators said Anderson grabbed the victim from behind and threw her to the ground after she crossed 2nd Avenue. He forced her to walk further down the block and then stole $40 and groped her, according to police.
After an apparent moment of guilt, he tried to give the money back to her and said that he felt bad, allegedly saying, "Have a nice day."
The woman was able to get away and ran for help at a nearby store.
"The lady say, 'Call police,'" said store employee Luis Luna.
But the suspect followed her. Surveillance footage shows him walk into the store less than a minute later, where he claimed to be looking for his wife.
"'Where is my wife?' I say, 'What?'" Luna said. "'Where is my wife?' 'I don't know. I don't know your wife.'"
The store employee said the victim ran into the back stock room and down into a storage area where she hid from the suspect until police arrived.
"She was scared," Luna said.
The incident left area residents on edge.
"It scares me to know that someone was attacked," said Upper East Side resident Emily Bird.
Police released a photo Anderson that they said is from a 2014 arrest for drinking in public. He is 5'7" tall and weighs 145 pounds.
Anyone with 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 visit the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
