A 17-year-old’s routine morning walk near Fordham turned into a police case on April 28, when someone grabbed her from behind in front of a Bronx building, then ran off before officers arrived. She was left badly shaken, though police say she was not physically injured.
The attacker is still on the loose, and investigators are betting that clear surveillance stills will help crack the case. Detectives are asking anyone who recognizes the person in the images to get in touch.
The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers unit shared a wanted bulletin on X on June 30 that includes those stills and a brief account of what happened, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. The post notes that the incident falls within the 46th Precinct and urges tipsters to reach out with any leads.
Police details and the law
According to police, the assault took place around 8:50 a.m. on April 28 in front of 61 East 182 Street. An unidentified individual allegedly walked up behind the 17-year-old and grabbed her over her clothing before fleeing on foot.
Under New York law, that type of incident can fall under the crime of forcible touching, a class A misdemeanor that specifically covers squeezing, grabbing or pinching. The statute is set out in Penal Law §130.52, as published by the New York State Senate.
The city’s Crime Stoppers program notes that tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $3,500 if their information leads to an arrest and indictment, according to NYC.gov.
Context in the Bronx
This latest alert lands amid several other Crime Stoppers bulletins this spring tied to groping and other street-assault complaints around the Bronx. For a look at how detectives lean on bus cameras, doorbell video and other footage in similar cases, see this recent Bronx bus groping report from Hoodline.
How to help
Police are asking anyone with information, photos or video connected to the April 28 incident to keep the original files and reach out to Crime Stoppers. Tips can be phoned in to 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the NYPD Crime Stoppers online site, which outlines all submission options and reward rules.
