A doorman working in an Upper East Side building stepped in to prevent a man from sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman near the Gracie Mansion on Sunday, police reported.
The woman, who remains unnamed by officials, was walking near East End Avenue and 90th Street around 1 a.m. when police said she was approached by a man who pushed her to the ground and tried to rape her.
“We heard screaming. My husband and I were woken by screams of ‘Help me, help me.’” A neighbor who didn’t want to give her name told PIX11 News. “I came down first. She was there in front of the building.”
As neighbors called 911, the doorman of the building, Hector Mateo, grabbed a flashlight and allegedly scared the suspect, who fled as he went to comfort the young woman.
“His instincts kicked up and he says time to go, and he started running” the doorman said. “She was shook up. From what she said, the guy tried to put his hands down her pants. The good news is that he didn’t get to rape her.”
Police said they are still searching for the suspect. Officials say he ran west on 90th Street and is described as a male, 5’9” dark complexion, wearing a dark-colored shirt, blue jeans, and multicolored shoes.
Mateo told PIX11 News he wishes he could have done more to apprehend the man. “I didn’t pursue him. I helped the little girl. She was down on the floor, bloody, crying and in shock,” Mateo said.
Numerous residents of the area are concerned but have praised the doorman for his quick actions. “It was just terrifying, and I was so thankful for the doormen. I really appreciate them, they are a vital part of the city,” Tina Davis, an Upper East Side resident, said.
“Absolutely, what he did was incredible, and I applaud him for it,” Gabby Newman, a 20-year-old resident of the area who lives in Mateo’s building, told PIX11 when asked if she thought he was a hero.
The young woman was taken to New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment and observation. The NYPD Manhattan Special Victims Squad continues to investigate the incident.
