Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Wrong guy...

15-year-old rape suspect is not Queens serial attacker
By Alison Gendar, Wil Cruz and Simone Weichselbaum
Daily News Writers

Updated Tuesday, August 19th 2008, 10:07 AM

A 15-year-old rape suspect now in custody is not believed to be connected to a series of sexual attacks in southeast Queens over the past 10 months, police sources said.

Although police still intend to see if other victims identify the teen in line-ups, cops no longer believe that he is the serial attacker, sources said.

The suspect was arrested Monday night after a rape victim spotted the teen - whom she believed to be her attacker - at the corner of Merrick and Farmers Blvds., said a family friend.

Officers picked up the boy at a nearby Western Beef supermarket and held him at the 113th Precinct stationhouse. The woman was raped July 26 in Springfield Gardens.

More than a dozen women have been attacked in southeast Queens since November. Police initially believed the teen was a suspect in those attacks.

Cops have said two men are responsible for the assaults. They have created a task force of 13 officers devoted to catching the fiends.

One is described as a black man in his early 20s, about 5'8" and having a medium build and close-cropped hair.
Another victim said her attacker sported a "D" tattoo inside his right wrist, said police.

The victims were ages 15 to 23.

Police have offered a $12,000 reward for the arrests. Anyone with information is urged to call (800) 577-TIPS.

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