MANHATTAN — Police released new surveillance images of the so-called "dapper groper" who fondled four women in a series of attacks across Manhattan, less than a month after cops wrongly accused a Park Slope man of the crimes, the NYPD said.
In the images, the unidentified man is shown neatly dressed and clean-shaven, wearing gray pants, a white shirt, black dress shoes and a black or gray coat. Cops and witnesses said he had brown hair and appeared to be about 30 years old, standing 5-foot-11 and about 180 pounds.
The suspect struck first about 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 at East 62nd Street and Park Avenue, where he grabbed a 33-year-old woman's inner thigh, police said.
The next day, he grabbed a 31-year-old woman below the waist about 11:15 a.m., at Varick and King streets in Hudson Square, and the following day fondled a 19-year-old girl's buttocks at East 67th Street and Second Avenue about 1:30 p.m., police said.
Then, on March 30, the suspect approached a 22-year-old woman at Centre and Chambers streets shortly before 7:30 p.m. and put his hand between her legs, police said.
Cops initially arrested Karl Vanderwoude, 26, charging him on April 14 with attacks at East 67th Street on Second Avenue, and Centre Street and Chambers Street. Surveillance video and emails obtained from his employer, however, gave him the alibi he needed for a judge to dismiss all charges against him.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). Members of the public can also submit tips through the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting tips to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577.
