Woman Snaps Picture Of Alleged Subway Groping Suspect
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police now have a clear look at an alleged subway groper, all because of a woman's quick thinking.
The victim turned the tables on her attacker, reports CBS 2's Kristin Thorne.
A young woman snapped a picture of the suspect sitting on the train only minutes after she says he attacked her.
Police said the 19-year-old woman was standing on the platform of the downtown 6 train at Union Square at around 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 23, when the man grabbed her by the shoulder, lifted up her dress and touched her private area.
Instead of running away, though, the young woman followed him onto the train and took his picture.
"If her airing the photo means one less person is affected by him -- she did the right thing," Upper East Side resident Hayley Balsam told Thorne.
Self defense experts say if you are going to go after your attacker you should do it in a crowded environment; never when you're alone.
Police said the suspect is Hispanic and approximately 30 years old, 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds.
While the woman's bravery is surprising it appears it's not uncommon. Michelle Stacey told Thorne she also confronted a man who groped her recently on the subway.
"I thought a bag was brushing up against me and I realized it was this man's hand. I just screamed him and told him let me alone, stop touching me," the Larchmont resident said.
It was yet another case of women refusing to be victims.
Police sources told Thorne they do not believe this suspect is related to the incidents of groping in Brooklyn and Queens.
If you have any information, call police or Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
