The NYPD arrested a homeless man Wednesday for allegedly forcing a young woman out of the Main Street subway station on Thursday, April 21, and then exposing himself to her in an attempted criminal sex act inside a nearby apartment building.
Roy Higgins, 29, was taken into custody after he was recognized by an NYPD officer who had seen a surveillance image of the suspect and recognized him from a previous arrest, police said.
Higgins was charged with the attempted criminal sex act, public lewdness and unlawful imprisonment in the harrowing ordeal that began around 9:45 a.m. when the victim was standing on the mezzanine level of the bustling station.
Higgins allegedly approached her from behind, grabbed her by the arm, and forced her to walk upstairs and exit the station, according to the NYPD. He then allegedly forced the 22-year-old victim down Main Street toward Kissena Boulevard and forced her into the lobby of 41-25 Kissena Blvd., an eight-story apartment building across from the Queens Public Library’s Flushing branch.
Once inside the building, the suspect forcibly restrained the young woman and exposed himself, and attempted to sexually assault her, police said. The victim put up a fight and was able to break free and escape the building’s lobby to report the harrowing ordeal to the NYPD.
The victim was not injured and refused medical attention at the scene while the suspect fled in an unknown direction, police said.
Higgins is awaiting arraignment at Queens Criminal Court.
