Police Charge Suspect In Sexual Assault Of Woman At SEPTA Station
By Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police have charged a suspect in the alleged sexual assault of a woman at SEPTA's Jefferson Station.
During a news conference Wednesday, investigators identified the suspect as 26-year-old Reginald Green. Green was taken into custody Tuesday evening.
Green is facing a long list of charges that includes attempted rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Authorities say around 1 p.m. Monday, a 27-year-old woman was walking with the suspect in the area of 10th and Filbert Streets.
Police say the suspect led the victim into the Jefferson Station track area and asked for sex and began physically assaulting her.
Officials say the suspect then sexually assaulted the victim before running away.
Captain John Darby emphasizing this "was not a spontaneous attack," explained the alleged victim met the suspect 30 minutes earlier near Broad and Arch Streets, several blocks away, agreeing to accompany him to the station, where she willingly boarded an elevator with him, then departed the far end of the platform and headed into a darkened, restricted area along the tracks.
Investigators declined comment on what the couple were doing, but they say Green turned violent, beating and sexually assaulting the woman.
SEPTA cameras captured the suspect on video and SEPTA officers say they almost immediately recognized him as someone they had stopped or cited 28 times in the past five years for various offenses. They quickly took him into custody when he was spotted in the same station Tuesday evening.
Capt. Darby revealed Green, who records show just got out of prison three days before the alleged attack, has a history of 11 prior arrests, including at least one for sexual assault.
Sources say Green has now made a full confession admitting to the attack and robbing the alleged victim.
Investigators say they have now taken a DNA sample from Green, hoping to determine if he is responsible for any other attacks.
Police say the alleged victim has now been released from the hospital after treatment for her injuries.
He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday.
