A woman visiting New York City was raped in an alleyway near a nightclub in midtown early Sunday morning, police said.
The 20-year-old woman from Australia left the club, Lavo, and got into a cab, but fought with the driver and exited the taxi after a short distance, police said.
She had just exited the taxi on East 58th Street at about 3:30 a.m. when she was grabbed from behind.
She was then dragged into an alleyway, where she was sexually assaulted, police said.
According to a law enforcement official, the woman then got into a second cab and texted a friend that she had just been raped. Police were called, and met her at another location where she was headed on the west side.
Because she was so intoxicated, the official says, the woman cannot recall the exact location where she was raped.
People who live and work in the area were surprised about the attack.
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"It's a good neighborhood, it's a high-class neighborhood," said Joe Agate, a delivery person who works near the nightclub.
He noted that it's usually very quiet when he works in the early morning.
Police have released a sketch of the suspect, who's described as being in his mid- to late-30s, about 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
