QUEENS, N.Y. — The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect wanted in connection with two forcible touching incidents that occurred within 20 minutes of each other Monday night in Astoria, both involving a deceptive claim about a spider.
According to police, the first incident happened around 10:50 p.m. near Astoria Boulevard and 22nd Street. A 25-year-old woman reported that an unknown man approached her while she was walking home, told her she had a spider on her, and then slapped and grabbed her buttocks over her clothing. He fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction.
About 20 minutes later, a second woman, also 25, was walking near 47th Street and Newtown Road when she was approached from behind by a man using the same spider warning. This time, the suspect allegedly touched both her buttocks and vaginal area over her clothing before fleeing south on 47th Street toward Newtown Road.
Suspect description released
The suspect is described as a male with a dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, maroon pants, and blue sandals.
There were no injuries reported in either incident. Police are investigating the two assaults as part of a pattern and are reviewing video footage from the surrounding areas.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD.
