Woman Sexually Assaulted Near Washington Square Park: Police

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY — A woman fought off her attacker in an apparent rape attempt early Saturday morning a block from Washington Square Park.

Police say the 20-year-old woman was walking in the direction of the park on Fifth Avenue near West 8th Street at 4 a.m. when an unknown man approached her and tried to start a conversation. The suspect then grabbed the woman from behind and sexually assaulted her by forcible touching.

The woman was able to fight off the attacker, and he fled the scene.

The man is described as Hispanic, 5-foot-6 with a medium build, and a darkly colored hat and backpack.

There have been six rapes in the 6th Precinct, which covers Greenwich Village and the West Village, so far this year, according to NYPD data. That's an increase of two year-to-date from 2015. One took place a block away from Saturday's attempt on July 8 at 5 a.m. on West 8th Street and Washington Square Park West.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).