March 4, 2008
Police Investigate Sexual Attacks on Bleecker Street
The police released a sketch of a man suspected of attacking two women early Sunday in the West Village. In both incidents, the women were exiting cabs when he attacked.
Around 2:15 a.m., a 30-year-old woman got out of her cab at 240 Bleecker Street, near Our Lady of Pompeii school. According to the Post, the "hooded thug lunged from behind, threw her to the ground and smashed her head on the ground." Though the woman was able to run to Leroy Street, he caught up, "pounced, ripped off her pants and grabbed her crotch and buttocks," only leaving when she screamed.
The victim spoke to the Daily News, "He made eye contact, and I could feel that something was not right. My gut knew. He was clearly after me."
In the second attack, a 26-year-old got out of a cab at Barrow Street and Bleecker. While she called a friend nearby on her cell phone, the attacker jumped her, "tried to drag her down an outside stairway, hitting her head on the concrete as he grabbed at her crotch" (Post). A police source says she tried to offer him her purse, and the victim managed to get away after "kicking the man in the crotch" (Daily News).
Both women were treated for their injuries. The police are canvassing the neighborhood and asking women to be careful at night. Additionally, the News reports neighbors heard the screams "but did nothing." The suspect is described as a Hispanic man, in his 20s, about 5'7" and 140 pounds.
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what is up with these crazy short ass hispanic lightweight rapists? wasn't there another almost midget prowling the east side last year?
what great neighbors they have, man where are the guys with pick forks and torches and a noose.
It's getting so one can't even rape a women nowadays without getting kicked in the crotch.
i have been saying it for years, thie west village area although well-to-do, needs more on-foot police patrols.
here's an idea: maybe he's a restaurant worker in the area?
yeah I think they caught the guy from the lower east side, right?
Time to set up a vigilante sting.
Damn, I lived in that area all last year, and I walked Barrow daily. I never felt the least bit threatened, but Edex is right in saying there is a need for on-foot patrols.
No way can a guy like this can hit the dating scene, so he takes it out on defenseless women. Can't he just find a 12 year old girlfriend to impregnate like a normal person?
Why do rapists always wear hoods?
Some advice: if you need help, don't just "scream." Call out for help. Yell "help me," yell "rape," yell "call the police!"
A simple scream might bring help in a quiet suburban neighborhood but not in one full of drunken revelers. I live near such a street and often walk home along it between 3 and 5 am; rarely do I not hear a scream or shout and see that it's just someone messing around with their friends.
She called out the name of a male friend who lives in the neighborhood? Why would anyone call the police or look to help her on hearing that? Sounds like just another drunk person looking for a lost friend.
Not blaming the victim, and certainly when someone is surprised they're just reacting... but just pointing out what everyone should keep in mind: if you need help, ask for help.
Detective Stabler would say that this guy is working his way up to being an actual rapist. Right now he's just a headbashing groper.
@jaycjay that's very good advice... I live in the area and hear people yelling all the time, only occasionally paying attention because it's commonplace for drunken fools to be loud and boisterous, especially on weekends.
I've also heard that it's a good idea to yell "FIRE" because people are more likely to respond when they perceive danger to themselves.
@Jaycjay - that really is excellent advice. I'll be honest - this happened just outside my apartment and I did in fact hear it. The police came the next day and asked me if I heard anything, and I reported that all I heard were about 5 or 6 screams, and something to the effect of "get away from me." Then it stopped. I hear yelling every weekend night - boyfriends and girlfriends fighting, people just being rowdy, etc. There are two bars right on the block - and at 2:15 (when this happened) there are usually plenty of people around. Had she yelled "rape," or "please help me," I'm sure I would've called 911, or opened my window and yelled something, but instead just assumed it was just the usual. I'm so relieved she got away.
Totally agree with Jaycyaj. I live near NYU and Washington Square Park, and if I called the police every time I heard a generic scream, they'd be responding 3-4 times a night to the false alarm of a drunken idiot.
i've been here 33 years but i STILL look out the window when i hear a scream on my street. you just never know! and what you see might change your mind about the severity of the situation.
i certainly hope that someone (obviously no one mentioned in this article or posting on this board) would do the same for me!
come on people. don't be so complacent. hopefully if you find yourself in a similar situation, you won't be on a street with the laziest couch potatoes in the free world.