Lowell Sex Assault Suspect Sought Reward From Police
LOWELL (CBS) - Lowell police say they've arrested the man who brutally attacked a young woman in an alley over the weekend, after he walked into the police department seeking a reward.
Kevin Suarez, 31, of Methuen, has been charged with assault with intent to rape. He pleaded not guilty to the charge Monday in Lowell District Court, where he hid from the view of cameras.
Police told WBZ-TV's Christina Hager that Suarez walked into police headquarters asking if he could get a reward for providing information in the case because he was in the area when the assault happened.
This was an easy search. #Lowell police tell me sex assault suspect walked into police department asking for a reward for info. #wbz
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) August 24, 2015
Suspicious officers questioned Suarez for hours before arresting him. He has an extensive criminal record, according to police.
The victim was walking on Middlesex Street toward Branch Street just before 4 a.m. Sunday, when a man attacked her from behind, beat her up and dragged her into an alley.
Another man heard her screaming and broke up the attack, allowing the 18-year-old time to run to a nearby fire station for help.
"This is a completely random, very unusual event, we don't get many of these, this was pretty tough to see," Police Capt. Tim Crowley told WBZ-TV Monday morning before the arrest was announced. "It's tough to see because this is a completely innocent person who is out walking home, granted it's an early morning hour, but you should be able to walk down the street without this happening to you."
"If the citizen hadn't intervened when he did it would have been much worse," Crowley said.