Man Gropes Woman, Brutally Beats Her After She Fights Back

Police in New York City are on the lookout for an unidentified man who was caught on camera groping and beating a 26-year-old woman in Brooklyn in early Sunday.

The man approached the victim from behind and forcibly grabbed her buttocks as she was walking along South 4th and Havemeyer Streets at around 2:15 a.m., the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Crime Stoppers Division said in a statement released Tuesday.

Surveillance camera footage of the incident released alongside the police statement showed the man — who is now wanted for forcible touching — also repeatedly punching the victim after she attempted to fight back over the groping. The victim was also forced to the ground at one point during the assault, the footage showed.

The man made some type of statement before fleeing, but the victim could not remember what he said, the New York Post reported, citing police.

The victim suffered bruising and swelling on her face from the assault, authorities said. She allegedly did not immediately report the incident to police.

Police described the man as being 35 years old, 6 feet tall and 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was reportedly last seen wearing a dark baseball hat, a do-rag, a white T-shirt with dark sleeves and the number "88" on the back, denim shorts and white sneakers.

The NYPD's Brooklyn Special Victims Squad is investigating the incident.

Authorities are offering a reward of up to $3,500 for any information that can aid in identifying the man.

Do you have information about a crime? Provide it to us anonymously and receive UP TO $3500 for a tip that leads to an arrest and indictment. Call 800-577-TIPS.

A similar incident happened in late June when a man was caught on camera attacking and groping a 35-year-old woman in Brooklyn.

The unnamed victim was walking near the corner of Morgan Avenue and Stagg Street in East Williamsburg when the man attacked her at approximately 8:10 p.m. on June 28, police said.

Surveillance camera footage of the incident showed the man, who was wanted for forcible touching, approaching the victim from behind before jumping on the woman and pinning her to the ground.

The man then reportedly reached into the victim's shorts and forcibly grabbed her buttocks.

The assailant did not say anything during the attack, police said. The victim was able to break free and run away from the man after she had struck him once in the head.

The woman did not report any injuries from the attack and refused medical treatment.