The New York Police Department says that a 68-year-old woman was sexually assaulted, and bystanders saw her being dragged away but did nothing to help her.
The harrowing incident unfolded on 6 a.m. on Saturday near the intersection of East 189th Street and Webster Avenue in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx, police said.
The woman was waiting for a friend who was going to pick her up near Fordham Plaza when a man allegedly snuck up behind her and put her in a chokehold.
He dragged her away into a parking garage where he tried unsuccessfully to remove her clothes. Instead he forced her to perform a sexual act on him.
The man fled the scene, and the woman was treated for undisclosed injuries at an area hospital.
Police released video of the suspect and were able to make an arrest on Thursday afternoon. 36-year-old Angel Roque was booked and charged with attempted rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse, criminal obstruction of breathing and stalking.
Authorities said they got a tip from witnesses who saw a wanted flyer about the shocking crime.
WNBC-TV reported that police said there were several bystanders who witnessed the incident, but they refused to intervene, and nobody even called 911. Some even heard the woman’s screams.
Nearby residents were shocked by the incident.
“It’s kind of disturbing that you, you know, can’t sit here and wait for the bus, and you gonna go through it just like that,” said Alexis Hunter.
Police said that Roque had no prior arrests and lived just blocks away from the scene of the crime.
Here’s a local news report about the horrendous incident:
Bystanders Do NOTHING as Woman Is Dragged Into NYC Garage, Attacked: Sources | NBC New Yorkwww.youtube.com
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