General

Cops seek same predator after new attack in Greenwood Heights

September 1, 2011 Heather Chin

Courtesy of the NYPD.

Share this:

A Brooklyn woman was targeted by a sexual predator last Fridayevening and police believe that the suspect is the same one wantedin connection with a series of sexual assaults in Sunset Park,Greenwood Heights, Park Slope and Bay Ridge over the past sixmonths.

The attempted sexual assault occurred at around 8:45 p.m. onFriday, August 26, as the 28-year-old victim walked home afterexiting the Prospect Avenue R subway station at Fourth Avenue.When she reached Prospect and Sixth Avenues, she was grabbed frombehind by a man who groped her legs and attempted to fondle her.She fought back, kicking and screaming until she was able to freeherself and run.

The suspect, who fled eastbound toward Sixth Avenue, isdescribed as a Hispanic male between 25 and 30 years of age,approximately 5’7, with a thin build, wearing a white T-shirt anda black baseball hat.

According to police from the 72nd Precinct, in whose command theattack took place, this suspect may be responsible for the otherprevious attacks in recent months.

While this latest victim did not sustain any injuries in theattack, another 28-year-old Sunset Park woman was not as lucky whenshe was raped on June 4 inside a 27th Street apartment vestibule bya man police alleged to be 24-year-old William Giraldo ofBensonhurst

Giraldo has maintained his innocence in that case; he was notcharged in the other cases as the victims did not identify him.After the latest attacks occurred while he was in custody, rapecharges were dropped. However, he still faces deportation on an expired visa, despite beingmarried to a U.S. citizen.

The first incident occurred on Sunday, March 20, at around 11:30p.m., when a 24-year-old woman was approached from behind by thesuspect, who pushed her to the ground and attempted to rape her on16th Street, near Fourth Avenue. The woman was able to break freeand fled, with minor injuries.

The next two attempted rapes occurred on Tuesday, May 3, alongRidge Boulevard in Bay Ridge and Sunday, May 29, near 55th Streetin Sunset Park, also at around 10:30 or 11:30 p.m.. In both cases,the victim – in one a 32-year-old woman and in the other a20-year-old woman — was approached from behind, pushed to theground and assaulted. During the May 3 incident, the woman wasthreatened with a knife and pushed towards a driveway. Both womenresisted and the suspect fled.

A fourth case, an attempted sexual assault of a 36-year-old inor near 20th Street and Seventh Avenue, occurred at around 4 a.m.on Saturday, June 25.

The suspect in all four of those cases is described as aHispanic male in his late 20s, approximately 5’7 tall and weighingaround 165 lbs.

The series of attacks has left residents feeling unsafe, and for some, thepolice response has also left them frustrated.

Anyone with information on the cases is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577,or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.