Police searching for man who allegedly groped 5-year-old at New York migrant shelter
The New York Police Department Special Victims Unit is on the hunt for a man suspected of groping a 5-year-old girl near a government-funded migrant shelter in Midtown Manhattan. According to local news source 1010 WINS, the incident took place near the old Roosevelt Hotel, where the girl and her mother, residents of a migrant shelter funded by the City of New York, reside.
The NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Information office confirmed the investigation, stating that the incident occurred at 5th Avenue and 46th Street around 7 p.m. on December 24. The suspect, who remains unidentified, is said to be acquainted with the girl and her mother.
Following the alleged groping, the girl was taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for examination. The incident has once again raised concerns about the safety and security of migrants residing in the Roosevelt Hotel, which has been transformed into a shelter and processing center for migrants arriving in the city.
Often referred to as a “modern Ellis Island,” the Roosevelt Hotel has become a focal point for migrant gang activity in New York City. Reports indicate that violence and crime have surged in the area, with the hotel’s vicinity being a hotspot for criminal activities.
The NYPD has not confirmed whether the suspect is linked to any specific gang, including the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, known to have a significant presence near the Roosevelt Hotel. In a recent incident on December 5, a 17-year-old believed to be affiliated with the Tren de Aragua-associated gang “Diablos de la 42” was fatally stabbed during a clash with a rival gang. Another migrant, 18-year-old Alan Magalles Bello, was also injured in the altercation but survived.
As authorities continue their search for the suspect in the groping incident, concerns over the safety of migrants in the area persist. The NYPD’s efforts to address the escalating violence and crime in and around the Roosevelt Hotel remain ongoing, with a focus on ensuring the well-being and protection of all residents, including vulnerable populations like the young girl who was victimized in this recent incident.
