Alleged rapist Anthony Smith on Aug. 10, 2025. (
)
A suspect in the recent assault and attempted rape of a 21-year-old woman in Times Square has been arrested. To the surprise of no one, her alleged attacker, 37-year-old Anthony Smith, is a recidivist, including multiple prison terms for armed robbery and narcotics sales, in addition to many other arrests in New York and New Jersey.
The crimes of which Smith now accused unfolded in the very early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.
In the austere language of NYPD reports:
“At approximately 3:30am in the vicinity of 47th Street and Eighth Avenue, an unidentified male approached a 21-year-old victim and attempted to sexually assault her.
The male individual fled on foot, traveling westbound on 47th Street toward Ninth Avenue to parts unknown.
The victim was transported by EMS to NYC Health + Hospitals / Metropolitan in stable condition.”
Less than three days later, the cops arrested Smith down in the 5th Precinct, which includes Chinatown and the deep Lower East Side. It’s reported that Smith was recognized by both his current parole officer and Corrections officers who encountered him previously.
According to prosecutors, Smith walked up behind the victim and put her in a chokehold so tight that she was unconscious within seconds. When the victim was again conscious, she was on her back with Smith crouching beside her, his hand under her shorts and underwear, touching her vagina.
While it was then that Smith became frightened by his victim’s revival and fled, surveillance cameras caught the whole attack on video.
Smith, who was charged with strangulation and attempted rape, gave his address as 455 Tenth Ave., at West 35th Street, which is a 44-floor, 270-unit luxury skyscraper called The Set in Hudson Yards, a highly unusual residence for someone accused of such of such a long string of alleged crimes.
Efforts to confirm Smith’s address were unsuccessful at press time.
Smith was arraigned in New York Supreme Court at 100 Centre St. on Aug. 14 before Judge Julieta V. Lozano.
Prosecutors from DA Alvin Bragg’s office formally charged Smith with three crimes: first-degree rape (vaginal – forcible compulsion); second-degree strangulation; and second-degree strangulation – sex motivated.
Represented by Public Defender Mariah A. Martinez, Smith pled not guilty and was remanded to Rikers Island without bail. His next scheduled court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 19, 2025.