Philadelphia

Attempted Rape Charge for Man Accused of Asking Woman for Cigarette, Attacking Her

A Northeast Philadelphia man remained behind bars Tuesday, charged with a slew of offenses for allegedly approaching a woman outside a Torresdale Wawa, asking for a cigarette, then dragging her into the woods and assaulting her.

Police said Felix Ramos, 44, of James Street near State Road, accosted a 29-year-old woman outside a Wawa around the corner from his home, on the 9400 block of State Road, about 6 p.m. Monday. They said Ramos asked the woman for a cigarette and then grabbed her and forced her into a wooded area, where he indecently assaulted her and tried to rape her.

Police said Ramos exposed himself, grabbed the victim inappropriately and tried to rip off her clothes during the assault. The woman struggled, broke free and called 9-1-1. Responding officers tracked Ramos down about two blocks from the scene, and the victim positively identified him as her attacker, police said.

A man accused of taking a woman into the woods and assaulting her is in custody. Police say the suspect approached the victim outside Wawa on state road in Torresdale. He asked her for a cigarette, then forced her into a wooded area where he assaulted her. She broke free and called police. Police caught the suspect on a bicycle...

Ramos is facing charges including attempted rape, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, aggravated indecent assault and related offenses.

The woman suffered bruises to her arms during her escape.

"She never met him before," said police Chief Inspector Scott Small. "She never saw him before even in the neighborhood, so this is a stranger sexual assault."

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