Aug 19, 2008 5:59 am US/Eastern
Person Of Interest Sought In Frankford Attacks
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Philadelphia Police identified a person of interest in a series of sexual assaults in the Frankford section of the city.
Authorities announced 26-year-old Dorrell Shaw is sought for questioning in connection with six similar attacks on women in the area. Police said Shaw is not currently linked to the attacks, but is wanted for a July 21 probation violation stemming from a burglary charge.
Shaw previously lived in the area on the 5200 block of Marlow Street and is similar in description to a composite sketch recently released of a suspect in the Frankford attacks.
Police are searching for answers after two additional women were attacked early Monday morning in the Frankford neighborhood.
Authorities said an 18-year-old female was approached by a suspect on the 1200 block of Wakeling Street at about 12:30 a.m. The victim was punched several times in the head and had her hair pulled before she was pushed to the ground.
The victim was able to fend off her attacker using a box cutter.
Several hours later on the 1600 block of Dyre Street, a woman told police she was pushed into an alley and sexually assaulted at gunpoint at about 4 a.m.
Police are trying to determine if the latest attacks are connected to a series of assaults in the Frankford area.
Sources said a suspect allegedly entered a home on Dyre Street through bedroom window at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday The suspect reportedly demanded money and threatened to kill the 37-year-old mother of six if she turned to see his face.
Police said the suspect then raped the woman, took some person identification and fled the scene out of the open window.
According to authorities, the earliest assault occurred in the morning hours of July 11. A 16-year-old girl told police she was raped behind a CVS drugstore in the 1100 block of Adams Avenue at about 1 a.m.
"He grabbed her and pulled her in the alley and threatened to cut her throat," Chief Inspector Bill Colarulo said.
On August 12, police said a 21-year-old woman was attacked at about 6:00 a.m. in the 1600 block of Wakeling Street. The victim told police the suspect followed her after she exited the Market-Frankford El.
"He produced a small silver revolver, not only did he rob her, he also forced her into her own vehicle at which time she was sexually assaulted," Colarulo explained.
Police said a gun was used in the sexual assault of a 16-year-old female on the 4700 block of Darrah Street at about 10:00 p.m. August 14.
After interviewing all of the victims, police released a composite sketch of the suspect. The description of the suspect is vague but Colarulo said they are searching for an African-American male, in his late teens or early 20s with a medium build.
"Because of the common scheme and design and method of operation and the location, we felt it imperative to notify the public," Colarulo said.
Investigators are analyzing fingerprints and DNA evidence recovered during the attacks.
While the incidents have all been reported in the same area, police aren't ready to assume they are the responsibility of a single suspect.
Investigators said they have recovered DNA evidence from at least one of the attacks.
If you have any information on these incidents or Shaw's whereabouts, contact Philadelphia Police.
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