Man Sought In Attempted Hell's Kitchen Sexual Assault: Police

HELL'S KITCHEN, NY — Police on Friday asked for help identifying a man accused of sneaking up on a woman on a Hell's Kitchen street and trying to sexually assault her.

The incident happened around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, as the victim, a 23-year-old woman, was walking on West 52nd Street between Ninth and 10th avenues.

The unidentified man approached her from behind, put his hand over her mouth, shoved her to the ground and tried to sexually assault her, police said. After the woman resisted, the man fled west along 52nd Street.

The woman suffered cuts to her right elbow and a bruised collarbone, and was hospitalized in stable condition, police said.

Police released surveillance footage showing the suspect shortly after the attack, walking near West 51st Street and Ninth Avenue.

A perceived uptick in crime has rattled Hell's Kitchen in recent months. According to NYPD statistics, overall crime is down this year in the precinct where Wednesday's attack happened, but some categories, including assault and car theft, are on the rise compared to the same period last year.

Police asked anyone with information about the suspect in Wednesday's attack to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). People can also submit tips online or on Twitter, @NYPDTips.