Traffic Cop Assaulted In East Harlem, Police Say

EAST HARLEM, NY — The NYPD is searching for a man accused of assaulting a traffic cop, police said.

A 57-year-old traffic agent was attacked while issuing a ticket Monday morning to a 2006 Chevrolet Impala double parked outside of the post office on East 110th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues, police said. While the officer was writing the ticket, a man exited the post office and approached her, police said.

The man, identified by police as 46-year-old Luis Villot, asked the traffic cop why she was writing the car a ticket and then punched her in the face, police said. Villot fled the scene and was not caught, police said.

The traffic agent suffered substantial pain and swelling to her face and was treated at Mt. Sinai Hospital, police said.

Villot is described as standing 5-foot-9 and weighing about 190 pounds, police said. He was last seen wearing a black winter jacket with a fur collar with the word "legend" printed on the back.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Photo by NYPD