UPDATE, October 14, 6:55 p.m.: According to the NYPD, the man suspected in this assault threatened a 26-year-old woman with a knife, placed his hand around her neck and grabbed the woman's crotch over her pants at around 9:43 p.m. on Thursday. The woman screamed and the suspect fled, according to police.
After further investigation into the sexual assault pattern the NYPD said this is the 20th incident in the area since March. Police reported six more incidents of sexual assault, all of which occurred in the 7th Avenue F train station.
On March 11, a Hispanic male, 22 to 25 years old, approached a woman from behind and allegedly reached his hand under her T-shirt, grabbed her breast and then exited the 7th Avenue F train station at around 12:30 p.m., cops said.
On March 25, a Hispanic male with a light beard approached a 21-year-old woman from behind, who was with a friend in the subway, and allegedly put his hand under her dress and grabbed the woman’s buttocks at around 11:49 a.m., police said. The woman yelled and the suspect, who is said to be in his 30s and standing 5-foot-9 to 6-foot, walked away.
On May 7, a Hispanic male in his 20s, about 5-foot-6, approached a 37-year-old woman as she entered the station at around 11:55 p.m. and allegedly grabbed her breast, cops said.
On June 18, a black or Hispanic male, 20 to 30 years old, approached a 30-year-old woman on the mezzanine of the 7th Avenue F train station, lifted up her skirt and squeezed her buttocks, according to police. The suspect, standing 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-5, ran out of the station and into the street.
On June 23, a 30-year-old Hispanic male of medium complexion allegedly grabbed a 25-year-old woman’s breasts as she exited the subway on 9th Street at 1:29 a.m.
On July 10, a white or Hispanic male, approximately 5-foot-6, approached a 15-year-old girl while she was walking down into the F train station and allegedly grabbed her breasts and buttocks.
On Thursday, October 13, a man sexually assaulted a woman near 17th Street and Sixth Avenue at around 10 p.m., according to officials.
The report was sent in an E-mail from Deputy Inspector Jesus Pintos, commanding officer of the 72nd Precinct, to Community Board 7. The suspect allegedly approached the woman from behind while she was walking her dog and groped at the woman's crotch over her pants.
The suspect, who was only described as a man standing about 5-foot-6, ran west towards Sixth Avenue after the alleged assault, according to the report. Police are still investigating the details.
This is now the 14th .
Pintos said Tuesday that authorities believe there is more than one suspect responsible for the attacks.
Aldolfo Martinez, 26, of Sunset Park, was arrested Wednesday for , which occurred on October 10 at around 7:55 p.m. on 36th Street.
Earlier on Thursday, of the suspect allegedly connected with the .
Police also upped the reward to $12,000 for any information leading to an arrest and conviction of a suspect or suspects connected to the attacks on Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.All calls are strictly confidential.
