Pols Join Search For Sunnyside Sex Assault Suspect
Lawmakers and residents came together on Tuesday, Apr. 10 in Sunnyside Gardens to speak out against sexual violence in the wake of an Easter Sunday assault.
According to City Council Mem ber Jimmy Van Bramer, a 30 year old Sunnyside woman was sexually at tacked by a Hispanic male in his late 20s on 46th Street off 39th Avenue in Sunnyside at about 5:45 a.m.
Nearby resident Mike Novak heard the woman screaming for help from the bushes of a home on the street and chased the attacker away until help arrived.
Van Bramer is supporting the 108th Precinct’s investigation into the incident, and spent Tuesday morning with other elected officials and Novak handing out fliers in both English and Spanish with a description of the per petrator to raise awareness about the recent attack to the public.
According to his office, the sus pect is described as a male Hispanic under 30 years of age, standing 5’6″ to 5’7″ tall, wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, baggy jeans and sneakers.
According to Van Bramer’s office, the assault is unrelated to other similar recent incidents in Jackson Heights.
“One sexual assault against any woman in this city is one too many,” said Van Bramer. “Sunnyside is one of the safest communities in New York City and we all must be vigilant as a community as the 108th Precinct pursues leads in the case.”
“I will do all I can to assist the NYPD in getting this sexual predator off our streets,” he added. “We will track down this cowardly criminal and make sure he is punished and put away.”
“Sunnyside is a safe neighborhood and we will not allow any woman to be afraid because of this sexual predator,” added City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. “We must stand together as a community and get this assailant off our streets.”
“The recent uptick in sex-related attacks in our neighborhood is intolerable,” State Sen. Michael Gianaris stated. “We must do everything in our power to find this criminal and punish him to the full extent of the law. Women in our community should feel comfortable riding the subway, walking the streets and going about their daily activities without feeling threatened.”
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls and messages will be kept confidential.
