Police: 20-Year-Old Woman Fights Off Would-Be Rapist In Greenwich Village
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are searching for a man they said tried to rape a woman in Greenwich Village near New York University.
Police said at 4 a.m. Saturday, a 20-year-old woman was accosted by a man who tried to strike up a conversation. While walking along Fifth Avenue at West 8th Street, police said the suspect grabbed the victim from behind and sexually assaulted her.
Police said the woman fought the attacker off and he ran away.
The incident has other women looking for more protection.
"If it's better lighting, if it's more visible security in the buildings, something, I would prefer especially because I leave late," one woman said.
"There's always cars here and you think it's safe, it's always bright light out and there's people walking no matter what time of the night it is, but that's actually terrifying," another woman said.
Police said the victim described her attacker as a Hispanic man, 5' 6" tall with a medium build. Investigators note she couldn't get a clear look at his face because he was wearing a hat, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.
The victim refused medical attention.