A 21-year-old woman’s late night F train ride turned into a crime scene last Thursday, when she was allegedly groped on a Manhattan-bound train as it approached the Smith–Ninth Streets station in Brooklyn, according to the NYPD.
Police say that at about 11:35 p.m., an unidentified person performed a lewd act in front of the rider and then forcibly touched her. No arrest has been made, and detectives are now asking anyone who was on that train, or has video from the car, to get in touch.
NYPD Crime Stoppers Pushes Subway Suspect Search
The wanted alert, shared by NYPD Crime Stoppers, sketches out the timeline and briefly describes what investigators say happened inside the subway car. The post notes that tipsters could receive a reward of up to $3,500 if information leads to an arrest and indictment.
Police are urging anyone with details to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS or to send a direct message to @NYPDTips on X. Anonymous tips are accepted, and detectives say even small details can help them piece together what happened.
What “Forcible Touching” Means Under State Law
Under New York law, “forcible touching” is the intentional and nonconsensual touching of another person’s sexual or intimate parts, and it is charged as a class A misdemeanor. The statutory definition is laid out in New York Penal Law §130.52, which specifically lists squeezing, grabbing and pinching as covered conduct.
A conviction on a forcible touching charge can bring jail time, probation and other penalties, with prosecutors deciding how to proceed based on the facts and evidence in each case.
String Of Transit “Wanted” Alerts Continues
Regular subway riders may feel a sense of déjà vu. In recent weeks, transit-focused bulletins have featured a run of “WANTED FOR FORCIBLE TOUCHING” notices, with police releasing surveillance stills and short incident summaries in an effort to drum up tips.
Local coverage of similar investigations has underscored how much these cases can hinge on bystander video and security footage to identify suspects. For a recent example of how detectives use that material, see recent groping alerts. Those reports also show that even when overall transit crime numbers fluctuate citywide, these wanted posts remain a staple tool for investigators.
How To Help And Where Victims Can Turn
Anyone who was on the Manhattan-bound F train around 11:35 p.m. last Thursday, or who captured video or photos, is asked to keep the original files and reach out to NYPD Crime Stoppers. Tips can be submitted through the department’s online portal at Crime Stoppers or by calling 1-800-577-TIPS.
Victims who want support or more information about reporting options can review the NYPD’s victim services resources and city hotline information on the department’s website at NYPD Victim Services. Police say the investigation remains active, and that tips may be eligible for a reward if they result in an arrest and indictment.
