UPDATED: May 22, 3:41 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Authorities say the Indiana man wanted for a string of sexual assaults in the Greater Philadelphia area over the past week has been arrested.
Philadelphia police said Kevin Bennett, 28, was taken into FBI custody in Indiana Saturday. He was in possession of two handguns at the time of his arrest.
Bennett was wanted in two cases where he allegedly raped three women. In all of the cases, the suspect followed, attacked, robbed and sexually assaulted the victims, some of whom were departing from their jobs at strip clubs. The attacks spanned from Philadelphia to Delaware and Montgomery counties.
According to police, Bennett is from Indianapolis. He was described as 5 foot 8 inches tall and 175 pounds. Victims described Bennett as having a stocky build. He was wearing braids or dreadlocks during the attacks.
Police say he drove a gray Dodge Charger SXT with Indiana tags 471A549. Victims identified him driving such a vehicle, but tags or plates were not visible.
Authorities described Bennett as armed and dangerous.
Police believe that in some of the incidents, he visited strip clubs in the city and followed women as they drove home.
The incidents happened between Saturday, May 15, and Tuesday, May 18.
During a news conference at the Special Victims Unit on Thursday, Philadelphia Police Capt. Mark Burgmann described how Bennett allegedly stalked the victims like prey.
“We believe he frequents these places and then he follows the girls home. Knowing they have money, believing they have money, he tries to rob them, then sexually assault them," he said.
On Tuesday, near Eighth and Poplar streets in North Philadelphia, police said Bennett followed two women home from a strip club, ages 22 and 32. He showed up the following morning wearing an orange vest and pretended to be an electrical worker. Police say he raped and robbed both victims.
Several hours later, another woman, who was in town on business, was assaulted at the Crowne Plaza hotel gym in King of Prussia.
Upper Merion Police Chief Tom Nolan said a woman was working out and let a man into the fitness center, assuming he was another guest in the hotel.
“He started to ask her some personal questions to the point that it made her feel uncomfortable,” he said. Then, he attacked her.
“As she’s going for the door, she’s struck in the head twice by what she believes was the handgun,” he said.
She fought back and made it to the front desk. Police say the suspect ran out the front door.
“We’re not sure why she was targeted by this individual. She denies having any involvement with the clubs in Philadelphia where the other victims had worked," Nolan added.
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In another incident, police say Bennett sexually assaulted a 22-year-old woman early Sunday morning in North Philadelphia, reportedly a random attack.
"She was sitting in the passenger's side of her vehicle when she was approached by the offender, who tried to strike up a conversation," said Burgmann. "She basically ignored him. He walked away. He then came back and produced a silver-color handgun revolver, pointed it at her, took her around the corner and raped her."
A day prior, police said the suspect followed a bartender from a South Philadelphia club to her home in Media.
On Sunday, a woman left a gentleman's club on Spring Garden Street and drove to her home in West Norriton Township. She realized she was being followed and pulled into a Wawa.
Monday night, another woman left a Southwest Philadelphia gentleman’s club and drove home. When she entered her apartment’s parking garage, a Dodge Charger sped through the security gate with her and followed her to the third level. He parked near her, then wandered around.
The three women were able to evade the suspect and call authorities.
“Most of these occur in the early morning hours, and we know they were followed,” Burgmann added.
Authorities are also investigating if he was involved in similar cases outside of greater Philadelphia.
This is a developing story. Stay with KYW Newsradio for updates.