MANHATTAN (PIX11) — A straphanger took off some of his clothes and allegedly tried to rape a 24-year-old woman aboard a Manhattan subway train last week, police said Thursday.
Officers arrested the alleged attacker hours after releasing a surveillance image to the public. Chris Tapia, 23, was taken into custody on charges of attempted rape, sexual abuse, forcible touching and public lewdness.
The suspect was sitting next to the woman on the No. 4 train on Nov. 17 at around 11:30 p.m. when he allegedly removed his pants and underwear and climbed on top of the victim, police said.
The suspect then allegedly groped the woman and tried to pull her skirt down, but she was able to flee to another train car, according to the NYPD. No injuries were reported.
The suspect got off at the Bowling Green station and boarded the Staten Island Ferry, police said.
Police said the man is approximately 25 to 35 years old, with dyed blonde hair and a right eyebrow piercing. He was last seen wearing a black winter jacket with a fur-trimmed hood, a gray hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, and white sneakers.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).