The Boston Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying a suspect wanted in connection with a sexual assault in the city's South End neighborhood.
Police say the assault occurred Sunday around 2 p.m. at a Harrison Avenue business establishment. It's located in the popular SoWa Art and Design district, a dense concentration of high-end apartments, trendy restaurants, and art studios.
The victim was working inside an art gallery when the alleged assault happened. NBC10 Boston is not identifying the gallery out of respect for the victim’s privacy, but the owner said the victim is doing okay.
Police were patrolling the area Monday but have released few details about the case.
"Not something you want to hear in your neighborhood," one resident said of the attack.
"I think the fact that the Pine Street Inn and the projects are over there is not an issue. This is a very diverse community of all kinds of people, really supportive of each other," Ashot Gheridian said.
U.S. & World
"It's a freak thing," Lisa Paglia said. "This really is a very safe neighborhood. It really is and it's a great neighborhood so it's unfortunate that happened, but it shouldn't represent or reflect the day-to-day here."
As police investigate, those who live and work in the artist community said they are reviewing their own security procedures. Some said that they rarely deny potential customers, but have to be on alert.
“Sometimes they’re harmless and sometimes you have to be really on guard,” said Tom Stocker, who sells his art out of a nearby studio, which he says is in a very secure building. “But you would think in the middle of the day, in the middle of the afternoon, it would be fine.”
The property management company that oversees the gallery where it happened said there are several surveillance cameras in the area.
Police are asking people to check their surveillance cameras to see if the suspect may have been captured on recording.
Anyone with information on the suspect's identity is asked to call detectives at 617-343-4400.
For those wishing to assist the investigation anonymously, you can call the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS or text 'TIP' to CRIME (27463).
The investigation is active and ongoing.
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