SUNNYSIDE — The man wanted for following a woman into her apartment building and bear-hugging her until she fought him off had groped a second victim in a nearby supermarket just minutes earlier, according to the NYPD.
The suspect was inside the Food Universe supermarket at 44-07 43rd Ave. in Sunnyside around 12:20 a.m. on March 12, where he walked up to a 39-year-old woman while she was shopping, spoke to her briefly, then grabbed her butt, police said.
He then fled in an unknown direction, according to police.
About 10 minutes later, the same man followed a 28-year-old woman into the lobby of her apartment building about two blocks away near 43rd Avenue and 42nd Street, police said.
The man was caught on video bear-hugging the victim, then pushed her up against a wall and put his hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming, according to the NYPD.
The woman fought him off, and the suspect fled. He was last seen walking south on 42nd Street, police said.
The suspect is about 5-foot-5 inches, with brown eyes and brown hair, police said. He was wearing a black jacket, blue pants and black shoes, officials said.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).
