A suspect was apprehended this week for attempting to assault a 21-year-old woman inside a Queens subway station in February, as per police reports.
Donovan Simmon, 19, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and is facing charges of attempted rape, unlawful imprisonment, assault, and lewdness in connection with the disturbing incident that took place on February 24th at the 169th Street station in Jamaica.
The victim, known as Jamileth, recounted to ABC 7 Eyewitness News that she was on her way home on an F train around midnight after completing her night shift when she noticed a man staring at her in the subway car.
Upon trying to exit at 169th Street, the individual obstructed the doors while engaging in inappropriate behavior, according to reports.
After he left the train, Jamileth followed suit, waiting on the platform to ensure he had left, she mentioned.
However, upon ascending the stairs to the mezzanine level, she found the man waiting for her there, she revealed in Spanish.
He trailed her through a lengthy passageway until they reached a secluded part of the station where he attacked her, Jamileth recounted.
He pushed her down, dragged her behind a wall, struck her multiple times, and attempted to undress her, the victim shared.
Jamileth struggled to defend herself and called for help.
Despite the attacker’s efforts to silence her, a security guard within the station heard her cries and rushed to her aid.
The guard intervened and scared off the assailant.
“Now, I’m always looking over my shoulder,” said Jamileth, the 21-year-old victim, following the assault. “I can’t walk peacefully. I always feel like someone is following me. I don’t know what to do. I feel awful.”
Jamileth, who recently moved to the US from Ecuador, received medical treatment for her injuries and switched to working during the day.
Simmon has prior arrests for robbery, public lewdness, and fare evasion, according to police.
If you have been a victim of sexual assault in New York, you can contact 1-800-942-6906 for confidential crisis counseling. For those outside the state, the National Sexual Assault hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673.
