'Fake Subway Cop' Arrested In Sunset Park Sex Assault Of Boy, 15
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have arrested a man in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy in Brooklyn last week.
Sources confirm that Steven Pappas is a former sex offender who assaulted the teen in the van.
Pappas, who served five years in prison on a prior sex offense conviction, was taken into custody Thursday morning in Sunset Park in the general vicinity of the attack, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
Special Victims Detectives began pursuing Pappas around 7:30 a.m. after a sergeant recognized him from the sketch released by police before finally catching him an hour later at 68th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway, Kelly said.
Pappas, who is in his 50s, was recently paroled for a burglary in Manhattan in 2009.
Authorities said Pappas flashed a police badge and approached a teenager after he threw an empty bag of chips on the platform at the 53rd Street and 4th Avenue subway station in Sunset Park last Friday.
Pappas, who was dressed in civilian clothes, told the victim to come with him.
The victim complied and followed Pappas into a white van, which the suspect drove to 92nd Street and Dahlgren Place and sexually assaulted the boy, police said.
Pappas then drove the victim to 38th Street and 4th Avenue and dropped him off, police said.
Charges against Pappas are currently pending.
