Police say a man riding a bicycle grabbed a 16-year-old girl’s buttock near Avenue T and Coney Island Avenue in Sheepshead Bay around 6 p.m. on May 30, then pedaled off before officers arrived. Investigators say he came up behind the teen, and detectives have now renewed a public plea for tips.
Officers are still searching for the bicyclist and are urging anyone with information to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), according to News12. The outlet reports that the man took off on the bike after the assault, and detectives are canvassing the Avenue T and Coney Island Avenue area for witnesses and surveillance video.
Pattern Of Similar Alerts
The latest public appeal lands amid a run of NYPD wanted posters this spring tied to groping and forcible-touching cases across the city, a trend local outlets have been keeping tabs on. As Hoodline noted in a recent piece about a teen groped in 14th Street Station, investigators often stress that witnesses should hold on to unedited video and contact police instead of posting shortened or edited clips online.
What The Law Says
Under New York Penal Law §130.52, forcible touching is defined as intentionally touching another person’s sexual or other intimate parts without consent, including actions such as squeezing, grabbing or pinching, and it is classified as a criminal misdemeanor, according to FindLaw. Prosecutors decide whether to bring charges in cases like this, and investigators say clear, unedited video or photos can be crucial for identifying a suspect and backing up an eventual indictment.
Anyone with information about the Sheepshead Bay incident is asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip online. Victims and witnesses can also contact the NYPD Crime Victim Assistance Program for support, according to the NYPD.
