A 66-year-old driver was attacked Friday morning in East Elmhurst after a stranger climbed into his car, demanded to use his phone and left him with a head injury, police said. The man had been waiting for a passenger around 8:50 a.m. in front of 23-54 97th Street when the encounter turned violent.
Police have released surveillance stills as they search for the suspect. According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, the man who got into the car asked to change the trip destination on the victim’s phone. When the driver handed it over, the suspect displayed an unknown object, struck him in the head and then took off on foot.
Where it happened
The address listed in the incident, 23-54 97th Street, matches a residential property in East Elmhurst, according to local property records and a listing on StreetEasy. The spot sits within the NYPD’s 115th Precinct, which covers Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and North Corona and has its stationhouse on Northern Boulevard, according to the precinct’s online profile.
Police are asking for tips
Investigators are urging anyone with cellphone, doorbell or security-camera footage from the area to save those files and share them with detectives. Tipsters can call the anonymous Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. Crime Stoppers may offer a reward for information that leads to an arrest, as reported by QNS.
What witnesses should do
Police have asked witnesses and nearby residents to note the exact time of any relevant footage and the direction in which the suspect was traveling, then contact detectives at the 115th Precinct with that information. The precinct’s public page lists phone numbers for community affairs and the detective squad for anyone who wants to speak directly with investigators.
