Cops hunt Astoria sex attacker

Police are asking for the public’s help in apprehending the punk who robbed an Astoria woman at knifepoint, then dragged her into a nearby alley, where he sexually assaulted and forced her to perform oral sex, while threatening her with the knife.
Word of the robbery and sexual attack has spread fear and outrage in the community. Local lawmakers, Assemblymember Michael Gianaris and City Councilmember Peter Vallone, Jr., are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attacker.
On Sunday, August 12, the unidentified 27-year-old victim was walking to her home shortly after 11 p.m. when she was confronted by the knife-wielding attacker on 26th Street, just south of Ditmars Avenue.
Afterwards, the suspect fled the scene toward Ditmars Avenue.
Police describe the attacker as a male Hispanic in his 20s, five feet, five inches tall, weighing approximately 150 pounds. He was wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers at the time of the attack.
Harry Biolsi, 66, lives across the street from the alleyway where the sexual assault took place. “I don’t know what to say,” he told The Queens Courier, “I’ve lived right here for 63 years and we’ve never had anything like this.”
Biolsi described the quiet block of attached houses between Ditmars Avenue and the elevated Amtrak line as “well-lit, but the alleyway is pitch black.” He said that he heard the victim’s cries that she had been robbed, and first saw her as she flagged down a passing car.
“The woman and man stayed with her until the police arrived,” he said. “She was crying, hysterical. The cops got there pretty quickly,” he said. “The cops asked her if she wanted to look for him, and they left in the patrol car.”
Police reportedly questioned and released two potential suspects, whom the witness said were not the man.
Anyone with information about the attack or the attacker are asked to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline, 800-577-TIPS (8477.) All calls are confidential.