In the early morning quiet of Melrose, a 36-year-old woman fought off a man who forced his way into an elevator and tried to sexually assault her inside a neighborhood building, police say. The attack happened around 4 a.m. on May 9, and the suspect took off on foot after the woman was able to break free. EMS brought her to Lincoln Hospital, where she is expected to recover.
The NYPD Crime Stoppers unit has released surveillance stills and a wanted flyer and is asking Bronx residents to help identify the man, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers on Facebook. Investigators say the attacker pulled the victim into an elevator inside a building near East 151st Street and Melrose Avenue, then fled after the attempted assault.
Surveillance Images and Suspect Description
Police released surveillance video that shows a man running down the street in a black hooded jacket over a black hoodie with a white graphic, light-blue jeans and white-and-red sneakers. Detectives estimate he is roughly 20 to 30 years old, as reported by News 12. Investigators say the footage could be key to putting a name to the face and are urging residents to review doorbell and building cameras for any clips from around the time of the attack. The NYPD’s Sex Crimes Unit is leading the investigation.
How To Report Tips
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), or to submit information online through the NYPD Crime Stoppers portal. Tips can be submitted anonymously via the portal or the department’s mobile app, and investigators note that even brief video clips or specific timestamps from cameras could help.
Neighborhood Resources
Melrose is part of the NYPD’s 40th Precinct, where the department’s Crime Victim Assistance Program assigns trained advocates to work directly out of precincts. Officials are encouraging anyone affected to reach out to their local precinct victim advocate for support while detectives continue to follow up on leads.
No arrests have been reported so far and the investigation remains active, as reported by News 12. Police are again asking anyone with footage or information to call the tip lines or upload material through the Crime Stoppers portal.
