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Did Cops Ignore 911 Call About An Attempted Rape In Park Slope?
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 9, 2011
Modified Sep 9, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 9, 2011
Modified Sep 9, 2011
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Earlier today we received a tip that there had been another attempted sexual assault in Park Slope, a neighborhood that along with Sunset Park and Bay Ridge has been terrorized by a series of similar attacks. Our tipster wrote, "There was another attempted (and failed) rape in Park Slope last night—check parkslopeparents.com. It should be reported—this guy is bold." Since Park Slope parents is restricted to, well, Park Slope parents, we remained in the dark until this disturbing news surfaced on FiPS. Here's an email they received from the woman who was attacked:
Last night I had a late work dinner in Manhattan. At a little before 11:30pm I was walking home from the F train on 8th Ave and 9th St. On my block (12th street between 8th Ave and PPW), very close to my house a man grabbed me from behind. One of his arms was around my neck and he was pulling me backwards, and his other hand (I was wearing a dress) went up my skirt. I fought him as hard as I could. I screamed really loud and scratched him very good. My neighbors, who were sitting on the stoop of the house, came running when they heard my screams.
I don't think the guy saw them when he decided to attack me. The guy ran off. He was 5'4, dark hair, wearing a black tank top. One of my neighbors ran after him but couldn't catch him. I was shaking. I could not believe what just happened to me. It wasn't even that late. I came home and told my husband what happened. He ran downstairs. I knew the guy was long gone. Our neighbors told my husband that they already called the cops. When cops still didn't show up by 1:00am I went to bed.
I couldn't sleep, I just kept replaying in my head what happened to me. Park Slope is such a safe neighborhood and that's the reason we moved here and decided to raise our children here. I can't help but feel helpless in this situation. What do I do now? Is anyone out there looking for this guy? Or is someone actually has to be brutally raped or worse -- really hurt -- before something is done? Now that it gets dark early is it not safe for women to walk around anymore? I wanted to share this with all of you.
An NYPD spokesperson at the department's press office told us they did not receive any information about a sexual assault in the 78th Precinct, but that doesn't mean much—the press office is usually only informed about the most high-profile incidents. If it's true the 911 call was ignored, it wouldn't be the first time cops have shown a lack of interest in investigating a sexual assault in Park Slope. But regardless, it seems likely the perpetrator of these attacks (and let's hope it's just one individual) remains active and at large.
Tagged
brooklyn
park slope
park slope rapist
rapist
sexual assault
sunset park
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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