Police Seek Male Bicyclist Assaulting Women in Center City, South Philly

Philadelphia police are seeking a serial sexual predator who they say assaulted four women while he biked past them in Center City and South Philadelphia this month.

Police released footage today of an assault that occurred shortly after midnight on August 13th near Eighth and Fitzwater streets in Bella Vista. The video shows the bicycling man approach a woman from behind before quickly reaching out to grope her.

Police said the same suspect assaulted a 39-year-old woman on the 2000 block of 13th street just two and a half hours later.

The suspect is described as a Latino male with short black hair and a medium brown complexion, between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 6 inches tall. He has no facial hair, police said, and rides a mountain bike. In the first series of attacks, he was seen wearing a turquoise polo shirt and a black backpack with orange sides.

The suspect targets women in dresses in quick attacks that he commits while remaining on his bicycle, Captain Mark Burgmann, commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit, said at a press conference this afternoon. Police received a call from a possible fifth victim after the Special Victims Unit released information on the suspect this morning, Burgmann said.

The PPD outlined the incidents:

Incident #1: On Saturday, August 6, at 1:00 am, the complainant, a 24 year-old female, was walking in the 1800 block of South 15th Street when an unknown male approached her from behind while riding a bicycle. As he passed beside her, he reached out touching her inappropriately. When the complainant yelled out the suspect continued riding down the sidewalk then in an unknown direction.

Incident #2: On Wednesday, August 10, at 10:15 pm, the complainant, a 42 year-old female, was walking in the 900 block of Lombard Street when an unknown male approached her from behind operating a mountain bike. As he passed by her, he touched her inappropriately then fled and was last seen west on Lombard toward 10th Street.

Incident #3: On Saturday, August 13, at 12:10 am, the complainant, a 27 year-old female, was walking in the 700 block of South 8th Street when an unknown male on a bicycle rode up on her left side touching her inappropriately. When the complainant began screaming the suspect fled in an unknown direction.

Incident #4: On Saturday, August 13, at 2:30 am, the complainant, a 39 year-old female, was exiting her parked vehicle and as she began walking to her residence an unknown male touched her inappropriately. When she began to scream the suspect fled on foot and was last seen south on 13th Street.

To submit a tip to the PPD via telephone, call 215-686-TIPS (8477) or text PPD TIP (773847).

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