As commuters boarded buses and trains Thursday morning in Woodside, they were handed fliers with information about a suspect who assaulted a woman and then attempted to sexually abuse her.

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and State Senator Michael Gianaris stood at the busy intersection of 61st and Roosevelt Avenue, near where took place, and passed out the information.

“We're here today because an innocent woman was attacked, brutally, in Woodside and there is never a time of day or block that a woman shouldn't feel safe walking home,” said Van Bramer.

On Saturday, August 25, a man on a BMX bicycle approached a woman and proceeded to repeatedly strike her in the face. He said he would stop only if the woman performed a sexual act on him. The victim was able to escape, and was later treated for a broken nose.

The suspect in the case is described as 20-25 years old, 5'5”-5'9”, 155-170 pounds with black hair, brown eyes and a thin build.

“Such attacks on women are unacceptable, and my heart goes out to the victim,” said Gianaris. “We must do everything in our power to find miscreants like this and punish them to the full extent of the law.”