Prosecutors have revealed disturbing new details of how an Upper East Side serial sexual assault suspect stalked his prey— unsuspecting women– as they went to or left subway stations. This comes as a grand jury hands up a six count indictment on a slew of sex crime charges against the 20-year-old, who is accused summer-long spree to satisfy his depraved sexual urges.
“All New Yorkers have the unequivocal right to travel through our City’s subways and streets,” said District Attorney Alvin Bragg, announcing the indictment.
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“As alleged, Damian Baeza Rendon followed and attacked multiple women as they walked along the street in a pattern of late-night attacks,” the City’s top prosecutor added.
Baeza Rendon was arrested earlier this month, less than 24 hours after police released video of what they believe was the 20-year-old’s first attack— which unfolded back on June 28th right here on the Upper East Side.
In that sexual assault, police say Baeza Rendon followed the 22-year-old victim for several blocks, before pouncing once the woman was on East 89th Street near First Avenue— ripping down her shirt and then putting his mouth on one of her breasts before running away from the scene of the crime.
Prosecutors say the suspect struck at least two more times, accusing Baeza Rendon of following another woman downtown as she went into the subway station at Broadway and Houston Street. Investigators say he then violated the woman, reaching under her dress and grabbing her from behind.
Less than two weeks later, on August 20th, prosecutors say the 20-year-old suspect was back up to his old tricks on the Upper East Side— even escalating his attacks and becoming more aggressive— tailing a woman leaving the subway, then grabbing her and trying to rape her, before a Good Samaritan who heard her screams intervened and stopped the attack.
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Damien Baeza Rendon, an East Harlem resident, had nothing to say to our news partners at FreedomNews.tv as SVU detectives led him to a waiting squad car after his arrest earlier this month.
He’s now charged with attempted rape, three counts of sexual abuse and two counts of forcible touching.
A fourth sexual assault early in the morning of Sunday, July 31st, down in SoHo is also under investigation, according to the Manhattan DA’s Office.
“We encourage anyone who believes they have been the victim of or witness to a sex crime to call our Hotline at 212-335-9373,” added District Attorney Bragg.
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