PATH security personnel monitoring the Christopher Street Station on video saw the attempted assault and told the man he was being watched and police were on their way
Andres Rodriguez, 33, of Hackensack, was arrested Sunday morning after police say he tried to sexually assault a Hudson County woman on the platform of the Christopher Street PATH Station in Manhattan. NEW YORK -- A 33-year-old Hackensack man was arrested at a PATH station Sunday, after police say he tried to sexually assault a female passenger but was thwarted by workers who saw the incident live on video, intervened verbally over the public address system, and called officers.
It was just before 5 a.m. on the platform of the Christopher Street PATH station in Manhattan, when the suspect, Andres Rodriguez, approached a woman and tried to sexually assault her, said Joe Pentangelo, a Port Authority Police spokesman.
PATH personnel monitoring the station remotely on video from the PATH Security Operations Center in Jersey City witnessed the incident, Pentangelo said in an email, "and announced over the station's PA system that the suspect's actions were being observed."
At the same time, Pentangelo said, other security personnel contacted Port Authority Police officers at the station.
"The suspect stopped his assault," Pentengelo added. "He was met seconds later by PA police who had been provided with his description by SOC personnel, and was placed under arrest on the platform by Port Authority police."
Rodriguez was charged with attempted rape and sexual abuse, Pentangelo said.
The victim, a 31-year-old Hudson County woman, was taken to a nearby hospital and later released.
Rodriguez could not be reached.
Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.