Police are still searching for a man accused of sexually assaulting a 35-year-old woman and stealing roughly $700 from her purse inside an Elmhurst building this past summer, with investigators only now releasing images of the suspect to the public. The attack happened the morning of July 28 inside a building at 90-51 51st Ave., according to police.
According to PIX11, the incident unfolded around 9:55 a.m. when the suspect approached the woman and demanded that she perform a sexual act. She refused, and police say the man punched her in the face and sexually assaulted her. As reported by silive.com, the incident occurred just before 10 a.m. inside the building on 51st Avenue.
After the assault, the man forcibly took the woman's purse, which contained approximately $700, and fled the location on foot, per the same account. EMS responded and transported the victim to an area hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.
Police Release Images, Appeal for Tips
More than three months after the attack, the NYPD released images of the suspect and is asking anyone with information to come forward. Investigators are directing tips to the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or by text to 274637 (CRIMES) followed by the keyword TIP577.
Spanish-speaking callers can reach investigators at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Anyone affected by sexual violence can also contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, which offers free, 24/7 support, information and local resources.
Pattern of Sex Crimes Reported Near Elmhurst
The case adds to a string of sexual assault investigations reported in and around Elmhurst in recent years. In June 2021, an armed attacker sexually assaulted a 31-year-old woman near 78th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, on the Elmhurst-Jackson Heights boundary, according to a report from QNS. That attacker displayed a firearm, forced the woman into an area off the street, and took her bag, which contained her cellphone and wallet, before fleeing.
In March 2025, a suspect riding a scooter grabbed a 37-year-old woman as she walked past a house on 77th Street in Elmhurst in broad daylight, QNS reported separately. That suspect fled north on 77th Street before turning onto Roosevelt Avenue toward Jackson Heights; police said the victim was not injured, and a reward of up to $3,500 was offered for information leading to his arrest. It is not known whether that case, the 2021 incident, or the current investigation are connected.
QNS also reported that the 110th Precinct, which covers Elmhurst, had logged 20 sex crimes through March 2, 2025 — two fewer than the 22 reported at the same point in 2024, a 9.1% decline. No comparable figures for 2026 have been provided.
No arrest has been announced in the July 28 case, and investigators have not released the suspect's identity. Anyone with information is urged to contact the NYPD through the tip lines listed above.
