Monday’s commute into Midtown took an ugly turn when a 42-year-old woman was reportedly targeted in a sexual act aboard a Manhattan-bound E train, rattling riders and kicking off a police manhunt during the morning rush.
The incident happened around 7:30 a.m. as the train approached the 7th Avenue station, according to authorities. Police say a man performed a lewd act in front of the woman, then bolted from the train and fled on foot before officers could reach him. Detectives from the Midtown North precinct and Transit District 1 are now leading the investigation.
According to Shore News Network, investigators have not released a description of the suspect and have not announced any arrests. The outlet reports that police are urging anyone who saw the man or captured video of the incident on their phones to come forward. Tips are being routed through Crime Stoppers as detectives work to track down the attacker.
How to report tips
Anyone with information can call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA, according to the NYPD. Tipsters can also submit information online through the Crime Stoppers website or send a direct message to the NYPD’s tips account on social platforms. Rewards are available for anonymous tips that lead to arrests.
What investigators are looking for
Police say the suspect slipped away on foot as the train pulled into or neared the 7th Avenue stop, leaving detectives without a clear description to push out to the public. Midtown North and Transit District 1 officers are reviewing accounts from riders as they piece together what happened. Officials have not released details on the man’s appearance or whether surveillance cameras captured the incident.
Rider safety and next steps
Commuters told reporters the episode shook their sense of safety during an already packed rush hour and urged fellow riders to stay alert and flag anything suspicious to MTA staff or officers. Detectives are asking passengers who were on that Manhattan-bound E train to scroll back through their phone footage and contact Crime Stoppers if they find anything that might help identify the suspect. The NYPD says the investigation remains active as detectives continue to chase down leads.
