Two NYPD officers have been placed on modified duty as police brass probe claims that a suspect in a Park Slope sex attack was in custody and then released, officials confirmed Friday.
Police are still looking for the man wanted for sexually abusing a woman in Park Slope early Wednesday and released a new surveillance video on Friday. But according to Councilman Brad Lander, cops had a suspect , who was held being by a bystander, but let him go because the victim was no longer on the scene.
"A bystander ran after him chased him and held on to him," said Lander, a Democrat who represents the area. "But for reasons that are not clear the cops didn't arrest him when they showed up."
In recent months, there have more than 20 such groping attacks in Park Slope and other adjoining neighborhoods, which have put residents on edge.
"Given this neighborhood had been hit by all those assaults it wasn't handled well," Lander said.
In this latest incident, police say the 22-year-old woman was walking near 16th Street and Fourth Avenue at about 5 a.m. Wednesday night when the suspect approached her from behind and sexually abused her before running off. No injuries were reported.
The suspect is described as being in his 40s, about 5 feet 4 inches tall and 140 pounds. He was wearing a red baseball cap, camouflage pants and carrying a shoulder bag at the time of the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online here.
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