ELMHURST — Police from the 110th Precinct are hunting for an individual wanted for an attempted criminal sex act and assault that took place in the rear parking lot at the Pan American Hotel around 3 a.m. Sunday morning.
A 26-year-old woman was with her three children, ages 1, 3 and 5, when she hailed what she thought was a cab at 207th Street in the Inwood section of Manhattan.
When the car arrived at the hotel, which was converted into a homeless shelter in June, the NYPD said the driver attempted to sexually assault the woman with her three children still in the car.
While the victim tried to get out of the car, the suspect elbowed the 5-year-old in the head and forcibly removed the 3-year-old from the car before fleeing the scene, according to police.
The children were taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center with minor injuries. The woman and children were residents of the Boulevard Family Center, the shelter for homeless families that the Department of Homeless Services moved into the former hotel in June, according to police.
The suspect is described by police as a male Hispanic in his 40s wearing a dark blue sweat suit with white stripes. He had an earring in his right ear, had manicured eye brows and spoke Spanish.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
