Bronx Rapist Dumps Woman in Sex Attack in Melrose – NBC New York

A horrific sex attack in which a man lassoed a woman from behind with his belt, then dragged her to the ground and attacked her between two cars is sending a Bronx community into a frenzy — and outrage.

Police shared disturbing video of the May 1 nighttime attack late Thursday in hopes of catching whoever was responsible. It shows a man following a woman near East 152nd Street and Third Avenue in Melrose after chatting with her. He goes behind.

He then drapes a white towel or shirt over his face to hide his identity, removes his belt and uses it to lasso her around her neck. He pulls back hard, sending her backwards and to the ground, where she hits her head on the pavement. The woman loses consciousness before the man drags her between two parked cars and sexually assaults her.

Surveillance video shows the man leaning over her and looking around several times to make sure there were no witnesses, authorities say. One man said that when he watched the video, “it made me so angry.”

There were no arrests.

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

The victim is said to have recovered from the attack.

An investigation by the Special Victims Unit is ongoing.