SUSPECT ARRESTED IN AQUEDUCT ATTACK

By: Sean Faye

Posted: 5/5/07

An arrest was made of a sexual predator that was accused of assaulting a Mercy College female student in the Croton Aqueduct on Sept. 10, according to the Dobbs Ferry Police Department.
Jose Javier Torres, 18, of Dobbs Ferry, was charged with one count of sexual abuse in the first degree, confirmed Sgt. Rick Guevara.
The suspect was charged with the crime hours after he had been arrested for a similar crime on Sept. 13. According to a police report, a Dobbs Ferry police officer noticed a female walking alone along Livingston Avenue, perhaps in need of assistance, at approximately 4:45 a.m. In the report, the officer stated that he felt the woman was potentially a victim of a sex crime.
An investigation led to the arrest of the 27 year-old Yonkers woman on the charge of prostitution. Also arrested was Torres, charged with patronizing a prostitute in the fourth degree.
A subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Torres for the Aqueduct incident.
"The description of the suspect from the incident on Sept. 10 matched the suspect we had in custody. After a follow-up investigation, we charged Torres with the crime," said Guevara.
Torres is currently held awaiting arraignment, stated Guevara.
According to a press release by the Dobbs Ferry Police Department, the Mercy student was strolling along the path between Mercy College and Cedar Street when she was approached by a Hispanic male on Sept. 10 at approximately 5 p.m. He struck up a conversation with her when her phone rang and she reached to answer it. The alleged attacker then began to rub her shoulders and kiss her neck. He placed his hand down the front of her pants and touched her genital area. The female then screamed for help and ran away, escaping uninjured.
Initial reports by the police had the assailant described as a Hispanic male, 25-30 years of age, 5'6'' tall, 160-170 pounds, with medium length black hair parted in the middle and covering parts of his ears, he was wearing blue jeans and spoke with a Spanish accent.
A police report stated that the incident was not reported until the following morning.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident should contact the Dobbs Ferry Police Department at (914) 693-5500.

Mercy College Campus Safety recommends the following tips to protect yourself, on or off campus-

• Walk with someone whenever possible, travel in groups
• Do not walk on the aqueduct.
• Be cautious if approached by strangers.
• Walk on the side of the street facing traffic.
• Avoid walking close to the shrubbery, doorways and other places of concealment.
• Confine yourself to well-lighted areas and avoid shortcuts, such as alleys or behind buildings.
• If a driver stops to ask for directions, avoid getting close to the car. Walk away and towards others.
• If a car approaches and occupants harass you, scream and run in the opposite direction of the vehicle so that the driver will have to turn around to pursue you. Try to memorize the license plate number.
• If someone bothers you, don't be embarrassed to attract attention to yourself: scream or yell.
• Try to let someone know where you are going and what time you expect to return home.
• Always be alert and aware.