Sex Assault In Elmhurst; Luring In Corona
Police are asking the public’s help in finding a man who molested a nine-year-old girl at an Elmhurst store and a second individual who allegedly tried to lure two young children off the streets of Corona and Flushing in two separate incidents last Friday, Jan. 25.
Law enforcement sources said the Elmhurst attack occurred at around 3:15 p.m. inside a grocery store at an undisclosed address in the neighborhood.
Reportedly, the nine-year-old victim was at the checkout counter when she was approached by the suspect, who is described as a Hispanic male between 25 and 30 years of age standing at 5’8″-tall with a slim build.
Police said the man sexually abused the young girl at the counter, then exited from the scene in an unknown direction.
The incident was reported to the 110th Precinct. The girl was not seriously injured.
Last Saturday night, Jan. 26, the NYPD released a sketch of the suspect, who was last observed wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and a black backpack with an umbrella attached to it .
Regarding the attempted kidnappings, authorities said the first episode took place at 7 a.m. on Northern Boulevard near 102nd Street in Corona.
The suspect in both cases was described by police as a Hispanic male between 30 and 35 years old, who was behind the wheel of a late-model Cadillac Escalade SUV.
According to information obtained by authorities, a 13-year-old girl walking through the area was approached by the suspect in his vehicle, who then engaged the victim in a conversation.
Upon realizing that she did not know the man, it was reported, the girl walked away from the vehicle. Police said the man then stopped the SUV, exited from it and grabbed her by the arm as she walked away.
The girl reportedly managed to pull away from the stranger’s grasp and fled the location. The incident was later reported to the 115th Precinct.
Later last Friday night, authorities said, the perpetrator tried to pick up a 14-year-old girl in a similar manner in the vicinity of Northern and Parsons boulevards at around 8 p.m.
Police reported that the victim drove up alongside the teenager in the Cadillac SUV and asked her to approach the vehicle.
When she refused to comply with his request, authorities noted, the man continued to follow the girl in his vehicle. Upon sighting him, the victim reportedly fled from the location.
A sketch and surveillance camera photos of the perpetrator were released by police following the incidents. The suspect was last observed wearing a black jacket, dark pants and a blue-collared shirt.
The investigations of all three incidents are being conducted by the NYPD Queens Special Victims Squad, police said.
Anyone with any information regarding the sexual assault or attempted kidnappings-or the whereabouts of the suspects-that could prove helpful is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1- 800-577-TIPS, by text message to 274637 (enter information, then the code TIP577) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
All calls and messages will be kept confidential.
