Woman Punched in Face Because She Wouldn’t Let Man Make a Call

Fanny Pack-Wearing Mugger Attacks Woman in Park

Police are searching for this man in connection with an assault during a robbery in the Bronx. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein 

Bronx Voice

August 9, 2023

BRONX - A Bronx woman was viciously beaten by a fanny pack-wearing mugger as she sat in a park by the water looking to enjoy the July 4th festivities. Now police have released a photo of the suspect accused of repeatedly punching  a woman in the face because she wouldn’t let him borrow her cell phone, cops said.

At around 5 pm on July 4, a 24-year-old woman was sitting near the water at Castle Hill Park located at the corner Hart Street and Castle Hill Avenue. A man walked up to her and asked the woman if he could borrow her cell phone to make a call. When she refused the man snatched the phone out of her hand.

Cops said the woman fought back and tried to get her phone back. However, the thief would not hand it back. Instead the man formed a closed fist and repeatedly punched the woman in the face. The attacker then fled on foot leaving his victim behind, cops said.

The mugger ran off with the woman’s iPhone 14 which is valued at around $1,000.

Cops said the victim refused medical treatment at the scene.

Investigators released photos from surveillance video and say the suspect is between the ages of 25 and 35. The suspect is described as a male with a dark complexion and medium build. He has a goatee. He was last seen wearing a black hat, black shirt, black shorts, and multi-color sneakers and carrying a fanny pack wrapped around his waist.  

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.