Washington Heights is on high alert following a series of troubling incidents involving a man harassing and assaulting residents. Echoing concerns from the community, local authorities and citizens are urging for vigilance and action. A suspect has been identified in connection with the harassment of women and children during daylight hours, with the man's behavior escalating to following victims and attempting to enter residential buildings. According to a CBS News New York report, flyers with the suspect's image have been posted around the neighborhood, particularly near 187th Street and Pinehurst Avenue.
In response, Council Member Carmen De La Rosa is prompting residents to take concrete actions by filing police reports. "One misunderstanding that folks have is that if they call 911, that is sufficient. We need police reports in order to actually file cases against this person," De La Rosa stated in an interview obtained by CBS News New York.
In a separate but equally concerning incident, a man is wanted for randomly punching a woman on 186th Street near Overlook Terrace, as noted by De La Rosa, though that appears to be a separate suspect. These crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the 33rd and 34th precincts, according to PIX11.
Adding to the community's unease are reports that the perpetrator is not only targeting humans but has also gone after pets. A recent encounter described to PIX11 involved a woman being physically bumped, her lanyard grabbed, and smoke has blown in her face by the alleged harasser near 180th Street.
The collective anxiety in Washington Heights is reflected in the precautions taken by residents, such as Jackie Cruz, who told CBS News New York that she is keeping a closer eye on her daughters and that the situation has been addressed with local children in schools to ensure their safety. As the NYPD investigates, officials stress the importance of reporting incidents to build a strong case against the perpetrator. Anyone who is harassed, stalked or attacked in the area is urged to go to the local police precinct and file a report.
