Man Tackles Brooklyn Woman To Ground, Gropes Her Then Runs Away [Video]

KEY POINTS

New York police are on the hunt for a man who was caught on video assaulting a woman in Brooklyn this week
Footage of the incident showed the man following the victim before he tackled her to the ground and groped her
The victim suspected that she was being followed by the man prior to the attack, police said

Police are on the lookout for a man who was caught on security cameras attacking and groping a 35-year-old woman in a Brooklyn, New York, street earlier this week.

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. Monday, the New York Police Department's (NYPD) crime stoppers division said in a statement released Thursday.

Surveillance camera footage of the incident released by the department Thursday showed the man — now wanted for forcible touching — approaching the victim from behind before jumping on the woman from behind and pinning her to the ground.

The man then proceeded to reach into the victim's shorts and forcibly grabbed her buttocks, ABC 7 New York reported.

🚨WANTED for a Forcible Touching on 6/28/21 at approximately 8:10 PM, in the vicinity of Morgan Ave & Stagg St @NYPD90Pct Brooklyn, The male tackled the woman from behind & grabbed her buttocks. Any info call or DM NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. Reward up to $3,500 pic.twitter.com/JziLYbouY0
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) July 1, 2021

According to police, the victim had a suspicion she was being followed by the man prior to the attack, New York Daily News reported. At one point, she had even allowed the man to walk past her by pretending to check her phone, which was also shown in the surveillance footage.

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, according to a report by the New York Post.

The NYPD's Special Victims Unit is now investigating the incident, as per ABC 7 New York.

Authorities have asked for assistance in identifying and tracking down the man. Police are offering a reward of up to $3,500 to people who can provide information about the attacker, according to the police statement.

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.

The attacker was described as a Hispanic man standing about 5 feet and 5 inches and weighing around 165 pounds, the New York Daily News report said. He was wearing a black T-shirt, green camouflage pants and black sneakers at the time of the attack.