Suspect sought for broad daylight assault of woman in Center City
PHILADELPHIA - Police are searching for a suspect accused of assaulting a woman in broad daylight last week in Center City.
What we know:
Investigators say the unidentified man allegedly assaulted a woman just before 3 p.m. Nov. 3 on the 1000 block of Race Street.
Surveillance video shared by police on Tuesday shows the suspect wheeling a bicycle and carrying an orange food delivery bag.
Investigators believe the suspect may have been delivering food on a bicycle on the day of the assault.
Police say a man riding a bicycle struck the woman in the face and kept riding. Surveillance video released by authorities shows the suspect riding a bike shortly before the assault. The victim was sent to Temple Hospital with swelling and other facial injuries. Police describe the suspect as a Black male, wearing a pink knit cap, red Nike sneakers, and carrying an orange Grubhub delivery bag.
The incident took place on Election Day, Nov. 3, and FOX 29 obtained video of a food delivery rider in the moments before the attack.
People who live and work in Chinatown have voiced concern over their safety after the attack, especially since it occurred out in the open.
Residents shaken after daylight attack in Chinatown
Some residents say the incident left them feeling exposed and anxious. "It’s scary, it’s really scary. I don’t want to say that’s the way things are but it’s scary but it shouldn’t be like that. And somebody should have intervene," said Betty from Cheltenham.
Maria Santiago, who works as a concierge in Chinatown, said, "I have a lot of concern because I’m a concierge and I try to keep my building and my residents safe and that’s what I focus all day on. When you are out on the street and a man assaults and elderly woman. I’m 60 myself and that’s a lot of concern." Santiago also said, "I feel very scared now. I definitely got to let my residents know about this."
What you can do:
Police are asking anyone who recognizes the man in the surveillance video to contact the Philadelphia Police Department or Central Detectives. Officers hope that the video's release will help identify the person responsible.
The Source: Information provided by the Philadelphia Police Department.