A Midtown subway rider was groped in broad daylight on a Penn Station platform at the end of May, and police are asking for the public’s help to track down the man they say did it. Around 11:25 a.m. on Sunday, May 31, an unidentified man approached a 50-year-old woman on the southbound platform at 7th Avenue and West 34th Street and grabbed her buttocks, according to authorities. Detectives say the suspect is still at large and are urging anyone with information to speak up.
In a detailed wanted post, the NYPD Crime Stoppers Facebook account lays out the date, time and exact location of the encounter and asks anyone with information to call the anonymous hotline, submit an online tip, or DM @NYPDTips. The post notes that the suspect has not been identified and that no arrests have been announced in the case. You can read the full alert on NYPD Crime Stoppers.
What forcible touching means
Under New York law, “forcible touching” covers conduct such as squeezing, grabbing or pinching and is treated as a class A misdemeanor. A conviction can carry a sentence of up to one year in jail, and repeat incidents can lead to stiffer penalties or related charges, depending on someone’s prior record. The statute is codified as New York Penal Law § 130.52, available via the New York State Senate.
How to report and what police ask witnesses to do
Police are asking anyone who was on the southbound 1 platform around 11:25 a.m. on May 31 to review any photos or video taken there and to save anything that might show the suspect. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-577-TIPS, by using the department’s online tip form, or through the NYPD’s tips account. The Crime Stoppers program offers rewards of up to $3,500 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment. Reporting options and reward details are listed on the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers page.
Where this fits in
The alert comes after a series of similar wanted notices this spring tied to groping complaints on trains and platforms. For example, Fox 5 reported a May 24 wanted alert after a 15-year-old was allegedly touched at 14th Street, and an April Penn Station platform prowler case involved a 22-year-old rider. Together, those reports highlight how detectives are leaning on social media and tip hotlines to chase down witnesses and video.
Police say that if you spot the man described in the alert or realize you have relevant footage, do not approach him. Instead, call 911 and then contact Crime Stoppers with any information. Investigators are asking tipsters to keep original video files and to note the exact time and platform details when calling in. As of now, the NYPD has not announced any arrests in the May 31 case.
