By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — More than a month after a man forced his way into a woman's Chelsea apartment and sexually assaulted her, the suspect is still at large, despite the fact that police have have released clear surveillance photos that match the victim's description.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and local leaders met with Sixth Precinct officers to hand out fliers with the photos at 14th Street and Eighth Avenue on Friday, as police continued their investigation.
“I’m concerned and frustrated that police have not arrested an individual,” Quinn said. “I’m out here to get the message out and get more eyes on the street.”
Police said the woman, 24, had entered her apartment at Seventh Avenue and 14th Street about 11:20 p.m. on April 30 when a man who may have been dressed as a delivery man pushed his way in, and forced her to the floor.
“It’s definitely a great concern that the suspect is still out there,” said Karen Horvat, 35, who lives in the neighborhood. “It’s scary this happened on 14th Street right in the middle of a main road.”
Community Board chairs Jo Hamilton and John Weis, who helped hand out fliers remained confident that the neighborhood could help identify the suspect.
“It’s the community that helps these crimes get solved,” said Hamilton, whose district covers Greenwich Village. “We’ll need all our eyes and ears.”
According to fliers, the special victims squad of the NYPD is searching for a suspect who is pictured and described as an approximately 30-year-old Hispanic male between 5’5” and 5’7” at 175 pounds with long brown hair in a ponytail to his waist.
Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
