Mary Martin confronted the man, photographed him as he fled and gave the images to Philadelphia police investigating the attack.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A woman carrying a bicycle helmet intervened after seeing a 63-year-old woman being assaulted in Philadelphia’s Point Breeze neighborhood Monday afternoon, confronting the man and later photographing him as he ran from the area, according to police and local news reports.
Police said the assault happened about 4:15 p.m. near 18th and Federal streets. Investigators said the woman was walking along the block when a man she did not know approached her from behind, grabbed her and touched her inappropriately. Police were still searching for the man as the Special Victims Unit investigated the case.
Mary Martin said she encountered the assault while traveling home from work and called out to the man. Martin told local news outlets that the man stopped and turned toward her. When she saw how upset the woman appeared, Martin confronted him as he attempted to leave. She was carrying her bicycle helmet and used it to strike him as she tried to stop him from walking away.
Martin told 6abc that she became angry when she saw the victim’s reaction and initially pursued the man with the helmet. She said she soon realized that continuing the confrontation could put her in danger. Instead, she took photographs of the man as he fled and returned to check on the woman.
The photographs were later provided to detectives. Police released images of the person they are seeking as investigators worked to identify him. Martin also accompanied the woman to the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit to make a report.
Authorities said the victim had been visiting her son in Philadelphia. Police said no injuries were reported. Officials had not announced an arrest or publicly identified the man being sought as of Wednesday.
Martin said previous training about bystander intervention influenced her decision to act. She told 6abc that calling attention to inappropriate behavior can interrupt an incident, and she said an outside person’s intervention appeared to change what was happening in this case. Her account was supported by witnesses who described seeing a woman pursue the man while carrying a bicycle helmet.
People in the neighborhood expressed concern that the reported assault happened during the afternoon near businesses and other people. Residents interviewed by local news outlets said they had not previously seen the man in the area. Police have not publicly disclosed a suspected motive or indicated whether investigators believe he is connected to any other incidents.
The investigation remains open, with Philadelphia police seeking to identify and locate the man shown in the photographs Martin provided. No criminal charges had been announced as of Wednesday, and authorities had not released additional information about the suspect’s identity.
Author note: Last updated September 23, 2026.