UPDATE: Suspect In Germantown Rapes Charged
By Al Novack, Steve Beck, Dray Clark
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police say a person of interest has been charged in connection with the rapes of four young girls at gunpoint (See Related Story).
Detectives with the Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit picked up 22-year-old Antuane Brown for questioning early Wednesday morning in the 1100 block of East Price Street in Germantown.
Police say Brown was arrested and charged with four counts of rape, IDSI, sexual assault, kidnapping, simple assault, VUFA, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, PIC, REAP and unlawful contact with a minor.
It's not known what led to Brown, but just Tuesday, the Citizens Crime Commission put up a $2,500 reward for any information leading to a suspect. Police also circulated a video of a man on a bicycle.
A woman who identified herself as the mother of the suspect spoke to Eyewitness News reporter Dray Clark Wednesday morning.
"I promise you, anybody that know me know if I thought that was my child, I would turn him in myself," Tina Brown said.
Brown said a "paranoid" neighbor called the cops and that detectives took her son's bike as part of the investigation.
"My son works every day. He has a girlfriend that lives here. What he got to run out and rape something for? And all his time is accounted for. He's at work or home," Brown said.
The suspect was wanted for the rapes of four females – ages 12 to 17 – in the streets of Germantown since March.
During this morning's apprehension, police also removed a mountain bike from the man's residence. Prior to one of the attacks, the suspect was caught on surveillance tape riding a mountain bike.
Brown said her son's mountain bike is light blue, not dark-colored like the one police say was spotted on surveillance video.
Stay with CBSPhilly.com for the latest on this developing story.
