By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — The young girl who was sexually assaulted inside a Chinatown library last week left her mother’s side for only a moment when an unidentified attacker brazenly grabbed and groped the 9-year-old in the children’s section, according to an interview with the victim on NBC News.
No surveillance cameras were installed to capture the incident, which occurred on May 6 inside the Seward Park Library at 192 E. Broadway, and the library’s lone security guard was not in the second-floor children’s section at the time, NBC reported.
Police continue to search for the perpetrator and released a sketch of the suspect on Monday.
"He asked me what color was my underwear," the victim told NBC. "Then he asked to see my underwear, and I didn't let him see it."
She said the attacker — who police described as a male in his mid-40s, standing 5-foot-9 to 6 feet tall, with a medium build and short salt-and-pepper-colored hair — both groped her and forced her to touch him. He stopped when he thought someone saw him in the act, the girl added in her interview with NBC.
"I ran to my mom. I was crying, and told her that a stranger was touching me and stuff," she said.
Library staff called police immediately after the incident and stated that a security guard had been working at the time but missed the attack, NBC reported.
A library spokesperson said that not all branches have security cameras and that they are usually installed based on past incidents and available funding.
“I'm very upset there are no cameras," the victim’s mother told NBC, "because it is very hard to find this guy."
The suspect was wearing a black T-shirt, a gray cap and was carrying a black bag with a strap at the time of the incident, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit its tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' Web site at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
