A 22-year-old woman was left shaken after a stranger groped her in broad daylight near Thomas S. Boyland Street and Sutter Avenue in Brownsville, and now police are asking the public to help track the suspect down.
Investigators say the unidentified individual came up behind the woman at around 9:50 a.m. last Wednesday, forcibly touched her buttocks, then ran off. Detectives have urged neighbors and business owners to comb through their phone and security footage from that morning for anything that might help identify the person they are looking for.
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, the department posted a bulletin on X with the incident details and noted that anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and indictment may be eligible for a cash reward. The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers program outlines ways to submit anonymous tips, including calling 1-800-577-TIPS, using the Spanish line, or submitting information through the program’s online portal, and it describes when rewards may be available, per the department’s Crime Stoppers guidance.
Where This Happened
The corner of Thomas S. Boyland and Sutter sits in the Brownsville section of southeast Brooklyn, an area covered by the NYPD’s 73rd Precinct, according to neighborhood maps and precinct listings. Detectives canvassing the blocks around the intersection have asked residents and nearby businesses to review door-cam and phone footage from last Wednesday morning for any images of the person described in the bulletin. Crime Stoppers has repeated that callers can remain anonymous and could qualify for a reward if their information leads to an arrest and indictment.
What the Charge Means
Under New York law, forcible touching refers to intentionally and nonconsensually touching another person’s sexual or intimate parts for the purpose of degrading that person or gratifying the offender, as set out in N.Y. Penal Law § 130.52. The offense is typically a class A misdemeanor and can carry jail time. State court guidance outlines what prosecutors must prove, including intent and lack of consent. Whether any charges are ultimately filed in this case will turn on the outcome of the NYPD investigation and any referral to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.
A Wave of Similar Alerts
The Boyland and Sutter case is one of several recent "WANTED FOR FORCIBLE TOUCHING" notices the NYPD Crime Stoppers account has pushed out as investigators chase groping reports across the city. Local reporting has pointed out a run of these wanted posts in recent weeks, with detectives leaning heavily on camera stills and public tips to put names to faces, according to coverage by local outlets. Community groups and riders’ advocates have repeatedly urged witnesses to save original video files, which investigators say are often more useful than compressed clips shared through social media or messaging apps.
How to Help Investigators
Anyone with information is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), call the Spanish-language line at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), submit an anonymous tip through the department’s Crime Stoppers portal, or send a message to @NYPDTips on X, per the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers guidance. Tipsters who have video or photos are urged to preserve the original files and let investigators know about them so the material can be reviewed as part of the case.
