GRAMERCY — A man tried to rape a woman in a Stuyvesant Town elevator early Friday morning and then hid in a tree after fleeing, a police spokeswoman said.
The suspect followed the 20-year-old victim into her building’s elevator at 4 a.m. on Oct. 17 and attacked her, according to the NYPD. The woman screamed and struggled with the man, and he fled.
Surveillance video shows the man running out the building's front door. He then climbed a tree near the apartment complex and hid there, a police spokeswoman said. He was caught again on surveillance video sometime later as he climbed down the tree and ran away, the spokeswoman said.
It was not immediately clear how long the suspect was hiding in the tree.
The woman was treated at Beth Israel Hospital, the spokeswoman added.
The suspect has dark hair and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and white sneakers, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES), then entering “TIP577."
