Police: Person Of Interest Expected To Be Charged In Connection To Camden Rapes
By Robin Rieger
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- Camden Police believe they have their suspect in three sexual assaults in Farnham Park in January and February.
"I'm happy to tell the residents of Camden that this monster is off the streets," Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson said.
The Camden County Prosecutor's Office says Kevin Cleveland, 19, of Camden, was arrested Thursday and charged with the robbery of a female juvenile in the park last month. Investigators say they are able to connect Cleveland to the sexual assaults of two juveniles and an adult.
"Based upon evidence obtained over the course of this six week investigation, Mr. Cleveland will be charged with at least two and likely all three of the sexual assaults later today (Thursday) or first thing tomorrow," Camden County Prosecutor Warren Faulk said.
Authorities say the three victims were grabbed off of Baird Boulevard under the threat of a knife or gun and dragged into the park and sexually assaulted.
Cleveland's name had come up during the investigation and a sketch was released. Tip calls came in that police followed up every day.
Faulk says Cleveland would have been arrested Wednesday if not for the false sexual assault report filed by 25-year-old Janira Lebron, who is charged with providing false information to police. (See Related Story)
"Those kinds of false allegations are harmful. They're harmful to law enforcement and to the public," Faulk said.
It is costly as well considering 25 Camden officers responded, along with the New Jersey State Police, the FBI and other investigators from the Camden County Prosecutors Office.
Lebron admitted she lied according to police. Instead of being sexually assaulted, police say she was involved in a domestic incident with an acquaintance.
