In a disturbing video, a man was seen following a woman in the Bronx, then throwing a belt around her neck before sexually assaulting her, according to police.
The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on May 1 near East 152nd Street and Third Avenue in the Melrose neighborhood, police said. The man, who has not yet been identified, was seen on video walking behind a 45-year-old woman he had just had a brief conversation with.
He then took off his belt and tossed it around the woman's neck from behind like a lasso, according to police. He pulled back hard, sending her backwards and to the ground, as she smacked her head on the sidewalk. The woman blacked out before the man dragged her between two parked cars and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious, investigators said.
The man could be seen on surveillance video leaning over her and repeatedly looking around several times to make sure there were no witnesses.
No arrests have yet been made. The man's face was covered up, the video shows, but anyone with information that could help lead to an assault is asked to contact police. The NYPD released photos of the man later Thursday night:
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The victim is said to be recovering from the assault.
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An investigation by the Special Victims Unit is ongoing.
