PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police have arrested a teenage suspect they said stole a car and sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl who was sleeping in the back seat.
The suspect was arrested at his West Philadelphia home Thursday morning. He is 17 years old, so detectives are not releasing his name.
The incident happened on May 30 in North Philadelphia’s Hunting Park neighborhood, near Germantown and Erie avenues.
Police said around 9:30 p.m., the girl was sleeping in the back of a white 2010 Ford Taurus that her mother left running, with the keys in the ignition.
The man got in and drove off, authorities said, and at some point, the girl woke up. Detectives said the man raped her near Broad Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, then pushed her out of the car and left her there.
Officers found her standing alone on the sidewalk about half an hour later, and the car was gone.
“I believe this was just a true crime of opportunity,” said Philadelphia Police Capt. Margo Alleyne-Parker.
She said the girl was able to call for help using her iPad.
Days later, investigators found the car at 54th and Poplar streets in West Philadelphia. Detectives pulled DNA from the car and, between that and a photo array, they were able to find a match.
“The complainant was shown a photo array based on that DNA match and was able to positively identify our 17-year-old suspect,” Alleyne-Parker explained.
A person’s DNA is typically in the system when they have been arrested before, but because this suspect is a minor, police could not say if he has a previous criminal history, per state law.
The suspect is currently being processed. It is not yet clear if he will be charged as a minor or an adult.
The 12-year-old is receiving treatment at Philadelphia Children’s Alliance.
“She’s going through the motions, the challenges, but I will say she is very smart, she’s very intelligent and she’s one brave little girl,” added Alleyne-Parker.