NYPD: Carl Phanor arrested after woman put in chokehold, raped and robbed while jogging at Pier 45
NEW YORK -- The NYPD says they've arrested a man after the rape of a female jogger Thursday morning.
Police sources say he was caught using the victim's credit card in Midtown.
Thursday afternoon, police said they arrested Carl Phanor. Phanor, 28, was also sought in two other similar attacks.
He faces charges of rape, grand larceny, predator sex assault and invalid use of a credit card in Thursday's incident.
Security guards at a nearby Target store told Gainer the suspect came in smelling of alcohol and asked where the Red Bull was.
Port Authority Police confirm Phanor was taken into custody at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Around 5:30 a.m. Thursday at Pier 45 between 10th and Christopher Streets, a 43-year-old woman was jogging. Police say she was choked from behind, raped and robbed of her wallet, cell phone and headphones.
The attacker fled on a Citi Bike.
"I saw a woman walking around looking disoriented she wasn't wearing shoes, holding her eye," witness Gabrielle Sumkin.
Sumkin was running at the time and noticed the woman bleeding. She called 911.
"I didn't want to ask her what she had been through. I wanted to be sensitive to the situation. I didn't want to pry," Sumkin said.
Knowing the nature of the alleged crime now, and that there have been other similar attacks, she thinks there should be stepped up police patrols along the running path.
"That's horrible and terrifying, and we should all be able to run without having to worry about people raping us," Sumkin said.
Other women who walk and run in the area were alarmed. Some are already taking precautions.
"It makes me not want to come here ever in the morning," said runner Adrianna Huehnergarth.
"I try to run during the day. Yeah, it's awful," a runner said.
"I usually stay during the day. I bring pepper spray with me and I'm always aware," said Jovana Casale.
Sabrina Mertz was training for the marathon on Sunday but had second thoughts about running along the Hudson River jogging path.
"Definitely the news today was pretty shocking ... Very scary," she told CBS2's Dick Brennan. "It's a little surprising that it was that much in the open, which makes it a little bit scarier than normal."
"Definitely kind of makes me think twice about leaving the house and at what hour and what it looks like, whether it's day or not," another runner said.
Women say that while it's reassuring the suspect was caught, you can't let your guard down.
"Common sense, and also just especially as it gets colder out and there's fewer people out, being aware of your surroundings," another woman said.
Last month, we reported that police were looking for Phanor for two separate, similar attacks on women.
On Thursday, Oct. 6 around 5 a.m., police say he put 48-year-old woman in a chokehold and attempted to rape her on the FDR Drive service road close to East 37th Street. She fought him off.
He took her wallet and cell phone and fled on his bike. They say he then attempted to use her stolen credit card at a smoke shop.
Back in March, police say at Pier 40 just after 6 a.m. around Clarkson and West Street. Phanor is alleged to have pushed to the ground and choked a 39-year-old female. They say he sexually assaulted her and took her phone, fleeing on his bike.
Phanor's last address is a homeless shelter on Lafayette Street.
Police sources say he has 18 prior arrests for assault, drug possession and stealing.
