Philadelphia

‘He's a Violent Sexual Predator:' Police Search for Center City Office Rapist

Police said the 22-year-old victim was working alone in the law firm office when the suspect walked in around 2:15 p.m.

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Philadelphia police are searching for a man accused of raping, choking and beating a woman working inside of a Center City law firm Tuesday afternoon.

The man, believed to be in his late-30s, went to the 8th floor of the building on the 200 block of North 13th Street around 2:15 p.m.

Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit Capt. James Kearney said the 22-year-old victim was working alone in the office when the suspect walked in. He asked her for another woman whom she did not know.

He then demanded she stay seated in a chair as he rummaged through the office, looking for items, Kearney said. The victim offered to give her earbuds and earrings to him in the hopes he would leave.

The suspect became angry, police said, and he proceeded to beat and choke the woman repeatedly. Then, he raped her.

A second employee, who had stepped out for a 30-minute lunch break, came back into the office and witnessed the assault. The suspect then ran out, police said.

It's "everybody's worst nightmare," Kearney told reporters.

The colleague told police they had seen the suspect outside of the office building when she left for her break.

NBC10's Deanna Durante reported the office building had security cameras, key card access and a security guard.

Police said the suspect is captured on video running southbound to 13th and Spring streets. Then about 20 minutes later, he is observed again on video at 12th and Spring streets.

It's unclear to police where the suspect was during that time in between.

Investigators are asking area businesses and homes to check their cameras and contact Philadelphia police if they have video that could help in the investigation.

The suspect is described as 5-foot-8-inch to 5-foot-11-inch male. He was wearing a black baseball cap with a sticker logo on the right-side brim of the hat, black shirt with unknown writing, blue jeans with a black and silver belt and a gold watch on his left wrist. Photos from police show a blue surgical mask lowered on his face.

Police said the suspect did not use a weapon during Tuesday afternoon's assault. How the suspect got into the building was still under investigation.

Kearney said police were hoping fingerprints and video would lead them to the arrest of the "violent sexual predator."

If you see the suspect, Philadelphia police advise you do not approach him and call 911.

Anyone with information on the incident can submit a tip by calling or texting 215.686.TIPS (8477), or filling out an anonymous online form.

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