The New York Police Department (NYPD) took into custody a man who attempted to rape a woman in the subway and was video-recorded while doing so, NYPD Transit Police Chief Edward Delatorre tweeted on Sunday. An investigation is ongoing, as the police move to prosecution.
Earlier, a call for public help in finding the suspect was announced by the NYPD, with Delatorre decrying the incident as "brazen and brutal sexual assault". After announcing the arrest, the police chief again encouraged potential witnesses of the attack to step forward and report any information to the police.
The attempted rape was recorded at the 63rd St/Lexington Ave station, with video revealing a man lying atop a struggling woman, then standing up and walking away after picking up a pair of sunglasses.
"This is disturbing and disgraceful. No one should ever have to experience this type of horrific attack in the transit system," said Abbey Collins, spokeswoman for the MTA, cited by NBC 4 New York. "The MTA is working closely with the NYPD to find the suspect and hold him accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
According to the report, the suspect was previously arrested earlier this year and matched a mugshot.