NYC elevator attack: Man forces woman, 19, to remove pants, punches her

Police released images Thursday of the suspect in the Feb. 8 attack
Police released images Thursday of the suspect in the Feb. 8 attack. Photo credit NYPD

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A man followed a 19-year-old woman onto an elevator at her Bronx building, where he forced her to take off her pants, punched her and robbed her, police said.

The NYPD released surveillance video Thursday of the suspect they’re searching for in the Feb. 8 attack at an apartment building in the Highbridge section.

The man followed the victim around 9 p.m. into her building at West 164th Street and Woodycrest Avenue.

When they were on the elevator, he demanded that she take off her pants, police said.

He then stole her cellphone from her and punched her in the head, according to police.

When she started screaming for help, he got off the elevator at the sixth floor and threw her phone into the hallway before fleeing the scene.

The victim was treated for minor injuries to her head, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Featured Image Photo Credit: NYPD