Woman Recounts West Village Sexual Assault
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- There were screams for help in the West Village after a woman said she was fondled and groped while walking with a friend over the weekend.
CBS 2's Emily Smith spoke exclusively with the victim Monday.
It makes her cringe to talk about, but she was not ashamed to tell Smith a man fondled and groped her because she wants this man off the streets. Smith did not report her last name or show her face on camera to protect her identity.
"I felt a presence behind me all of a sudden. I saw the shadows of the feet and he restricted me and he groped me," "Kristine" said.
The 28-year-old said it happened while walking down Bank Street at 1 a.m. Saturday in the West Village. She said she and a girlfriend had their arms linked when she felt a man's hands on her body – on her chest and under her skirt.
"I screamed when he grabbed me but then he ran off right away," she said.
From what Kristine told police, the suspect is a male, about 5-foot-5 in his 20s. He was wearing a black hat and black vest or sweater.
Investigators are checking surveillance video for more information on the attacker.
At the corner of Bank Street is the Waverly Inn -- a celebrity hangout. Neighbors who live in the area said it's a nice family street, but now they're afraid what happened to Kristine could happen to them.
"I have not heard about this. Scary. I'm upset. I haven't been informed," one person said.
"Certainly we always watch our back but we are realistic about where we live," another added.
Kristine said she's afraid to take her dog out for walks and do other everyday things. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
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