MANHATTAN, NY — A homeless man with a lengthy criminal history is accused of attempting to rape a 21-year-old woman inside the 116th Street – Columbia University subway station late Wednesday night. Police have identified the suspect as 44-year-old Lamel Batten, who reportedly has 51 prior arrests.
According to police sources, Batten, who was half-naked with his pants down, attacked the young woman as she was getting off a platform bench around 11:45 p.m.
He is alleged to have thrown her against a wall in the No. 1 train station, forcibly pulled down her shirt, and shoved his face into her chest.
The attack escalated as Batten allegedly attempted to remove the victim’s pants. However, she managed to escape and fled to the mezzanine level of the station, where she reported the horrifying incident to the police.
