Police say a woman who reported a sexual assault to SEPTA police Wednesday had not been on the train platform where she claims she was attacked.
The 54-year-old Glenolden woman told police that she had just left dinner and was catching a train when she was attacked by Rafiq Smith, 42, in the Market East station just before midnight. SEPTA spokeswoman Jerri Williams says security video shows the woman and Smith had been denied entry 90 minutes earlier by a cashier at a nearby station. Williams says the video shows them appearing to leave the concourse.
City police say they arrested Smith based on the woman's complaint, and took her to a hospital for treatment. Police say the woman told them that Smith grabbed the victim, pushed her to the ground, and stole cash and a cell phone before sexually assaulting her.
The cash and phone were recovered when the Smith was stopped by SEPTA police a short time after the incident.
Smith is charged with rape, robbery, sexual and simple assault.
