Mar 18, 2005 5:34 pm US/Eastern
NEW YORK (CBS) Police are searching for a rape suspect. A teenage girl was sexually assaulted as she got off a subway train. And because she is legally blind, police are facing an obstacle in finding her attacker.
It happened in the train station at Parsons Blvd. and Archer Avenue Wednesday night around 8 PM. Police say a 19 year-old woman, who is legally blind, just got off an E-train.
As she got off, police say a man who offered her assistance approached her. He offered to escort her onto an elevator. When they got on, it was just the two of them.
Once the doors closed, police say the man held a sharp object to the womans neck and raped her.
On the floor above, even if the doors opened, the attack may have gone unnoticed because the elevator doors are secluded some 30-feet down a narrow ramp between two stairways.
In the station there was plenty of reaction from young women commuters who take this E-train.
Thats sad. Im 19, and for some one to take advantage of someone disabled is horrible already, said one subway rider.
Even though there is a panic alarm in the elevator with instructions in Braille, the victim may have been unaware of the devices location, or was unable to reach it.
Oh my God, thats bad. Thats bad. They should have better security here at the train station, said another subway station.
The victim, like all sexual assault victims, is not being identified. Because the woman is legally blind, she was unable to give police a description of the man.
Authorities are asking people to come forward if they have any information about this case.
NEW YORK (CBS) Police are searching for a rape suspect. A teenage girl was sexually assaulted as she got off a subway train. And because she is legally blind, police are facing an obstacle in finding her attacker.
It happened in the train station at Parsons Blvd. and Archer Avenue Wednesday night around 8 PM. Police say a 19 year-old woman, who is legally blind, just got off an E-train.
As she got off, police say a man who offered her assistance approached her. He offered to escort her onto an elevator. When they got on, it was just the two of them.
Once the doors closed, police say the man held a sharp object to the womans neck and raped her.
On the floor above, even if the doors opened, the attack may have gone unnoticed because the elevator doors are secluded some 30-feet down a narrow ramp between two stairways.
In the station there was plenty of reaction from young women commuters who take this E-train.
Thats sad. Im 19, and for some one to take advantage of someone disabled is horrible already, said one subway rider.
Even though there is a panic alarm in the elevator with instructions in Braille, the victim may have been unaware of the devices location, or was unable to reach it.
Oh my God, thats bad. Thats bad. They should have better security here at the train station, said another subway station.
The victim, like all sexual assault victims, is not being identified. Because the woman is legally blind, she was unable to give police a description of the man.
Authorities are asking people to come forward if they have any information about this case.
