Mar 20, 2008 11:49 am US/Eastern
Police Search For Brooklyn Sex Assault Suspect
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
Surveillance footage captured this image of a man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in a Brooklyn public housing complex.
CBS
Police are hunting for a sexual predator who attacked a woman inside a Brooklyn apartment building Thursday morning.
The attack happened at 414 Sutter Ave. in the Van Dyke public housing complex in Brownsville and police say it's the second time an assault has happened there in less than a month. Residents admit they're frightened.
"I have a daughter and I bought her some Mace and she can use it too," says Constance Bernhardt, a building resident.
In the last two weeks, two women have been sexually assaulted at the complex. The most recent happened at 1:30 a.m. Thursday inside the building, with the attacker escaping off the roof.
"I feel bad for [the victim.] It's sad for somebody to get attacked like that," says Van Dyke resident Shawanne Gerard.
The first assault happened on March 6 in a nearby building that's also part of the complex. Police released a sketch and grainy photographs of the attacker that they say followed the victim out of an elevator, forcing her into a stairwell at knifepoint before raping her.
"I don't feel safe on those stairwells. It's dark. There is not a lot of light," says resident Adrienne Cokely.
Two officers were stripped of their guns and badges and could face disciplinary action for allegedly lying about patrolling the building when the first assault occurred. Some female residents say there isn't enough security despite the numerous cameras.
"I try not to travel by myself," says Pamela Simpson. "So I do a buddy system with my husband and my friends."
Police do not know if the same man is responsible for both attacks, but there are similarities between the two incidents. They both happened in the same month in the same complex, and at around 1 a.m.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Sen. Schumer: Public Option Can Pass Senate 4 mins ago 
Gov. Paterson Wants Lawmakers To Address Deficit 5 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments