A 27-year-old woman was walking down the stairwell at the 5 Avenue and 59 Street subway station Tuesday afternoon when a stranger came up from behind her, grabbed her buttocks and groin over her clothing, and ran off toward Central Park South. The incident happened at approximately 2:10 p.m. within the confines of the Mid-Town North Precinct and Transit District 1, and the suspect remains unidentified.
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, the individual approached the victim from behind as she descended the stairs, made unwanted contact, and then fled the station on foot. Crime Stoppers is asking for information that could help identify the individual. Tips can be submitted through the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), the Spanish-language line at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), the Crime Stoppers website, or on X through the @NYPDTips account.
A Familiar Pattern on the City's Transit System
Our Town reported a separate incident involving a woman being forcibly touched on the subway.
A separate case took place aboard an MTA Bx3 bus, where the article notes a 20-year-old victim was groped in a similar manner. Per the same account, the assailant grabbed the victim's buttocks and pressed his erect penis onto her, though no physical injuries resulted, according to Norwood News. In that case, police described the man sought as roughly 18 to 25 years old, with a dark complexion, wearing a blue baseball hat, a black long-sleeve shirt, black pants, blue Crocs, and a light-colored backpack.
What New York Law Says About Forcible Touching
Under New York Penal Law § 130.52, a person is guilty of forcible touching when they intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly touch another person, according to the New York State Senate. The statute classifies forcible touching as a Class A misdemeanor.
A physical description and approximate age range for the suspected assailant have been provided, although the individual remains unidentified, and it remains unclear whether an arrest has been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline.
