Police say a 45-year-old woman was assaulted in the mezzanine of the Grand Central subway station on Saturday at about 12:45 p.m., when an unidentified man approached her, grabbed her buttocks and pressed his face against hers before running off. No arrests have been reported.
The NYPD's Crime Stoppers unit has put out a wanted notice with a photo and suspect description and is asking anyone with information to call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA, or to submit tips on the Crime Stoppers site. According to the public appeal on NYPD Crime Stoppers, officials say the suspect fled from the mezzanine and urged anyone who might have captured video of the encounter to come forward.
Police Release Photo And Ask For Tips
The Crime Stoppers notice, headlined "WANTED FOR FORCIBLE TOUCHING," features a still image of the person authorities are trying to identify, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. The post states that the suspect grabbed the victim's buttocks and "placed his face against the victim's face" before fleeing the station area. Investigators are specifically asking anyone who has surveillance footage or cell phone video from the mezzanine around the time of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
How Often This Happens In Midtown
Grand Central and other busy Midtown transit hubs have repeatedly shown up in NYPD appeals about groping and forcible touching on the subway in recent months. Outlets including OurTownNY and Gothamist have highlighted similar cases and police "help identify" notices tied to Grand Central and nearby stations.
Legal Note
Under New York law, "forcible touching" is defined in New York Penal Law § 130.52 as intentional, non‑consensual touching of sexual or intimate parts for the purpose of degrading the victim or gratifying the actor. It is classified as a misdemeanor offense and can be prosecuted when evidence and witness identification support a case.
How To Report And Where To Get Help
Anyone who witnessed the Grand Central incident or has relevant video is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at the numbers above or through the online tip portal. Victims seeking support can reach out to Safe Horizon's hotlines, and the NYPD provides transit-specific reporting guidance. See Safe Horizon, the NYPD transit page and MTA Safety and Security for information on preserving evidence and accessing services. Safe Horizon operates a 24/7 hotline, and the NYPD lists local victim resources on its site.
Police reiterated that anyone with information that could help identify the person in the photo should contact Crime Stoppers immediately. Tips can be submitted anonymously and may be eligible for a reward.
