Philadelphia detectives have identified the man they say abducted and sexually assaulted a woman in Fishtown last week. He also allegedly tried to assault another woman the same morning.
Manuel Cintron, 24, is wanted for the incident that took place on May 1. Investigators said a 22-year-old woman was walking home from work along the 2000 block of E. York Street around 5:30 a.m. when Cintron approached her.
Cintron pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and forced the victim into a 90s Dodge or Chrysler minivan, drove her to a nearby area and sexually assaulted her inside the vehicle, according to detectives. The woman was let go at Almond and Boston Streets and the suspect fled the area.
Less than an hour before, at 4:20 a.m., police said Cintron tried to assault a woman along the 100 block of Ruscomb Street. Detectives said the man pulled a handgun and tried to force her into a parked vehicle, but she was able to fight him off and run away.
Special Victims Unit detectives released a detailed sketch of the suspect Tuesday and surveillance video of the minivan driving through the neighborhood.
Police plan to charge Cintron with Abduction, Sexual Assault and Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act.
Jose Cintron, the man's brother, believes police have the wrong man.
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"I don't think he would do something like that because my brother is kind and not the kind and is not the kind of person that would hurt anybody," he told NBC10 Friday evening. "And definitely, he won't grab a girl and abduct her and put her in his car."
Jose and other family members said they do not know where Manuel is, but hope he turns himself in to sort it all out.
Anyone with information on Cintron's whereabouts is asked to call 215.686.TIPS or 911.
Editor's Note: Philadelphia Police mistakenly identified Cintron as a suspect in another sexual assault that took place on April 18. This story has since been updated.
