Woman Sexually Assaulted Near Washington Heights Church: Police

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — The NYPD is trying to identify a man wanted in connection with a sexual assault in Washington Heights, police said.

A 23-year-old woman was walking in front of the St. Rose of Lima's Church on West 165th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and St. Nicholas Avenue early Monday morning when an unknown man ran up to her from behind, police said. The man grabbed the woman, placed his hand over her mouth and dragged her underneath a nearby building awning, police said.

The man threatened to stab the woman if she screamed before removing her pants and attempting to rape her, police said. When the man was unable to rape the woman, he forced her to perform oral sex, police said.

The man fled the scene when a passerby approached him and the victim, police said. The woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

The suspect is described as a man in his 20s or 30s who stands between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-11, police said. He was last seen wearing glasses, a green coat with a fur-lined hood, black sweatpants and gray sneakers.

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

Photo by NYPD