Mass. sex assault suspect caught after seeking reward from police
LOWELL, Mass. -- Lowell police say they've arrested the man who brutally attacked a young woman in an alley over the weekend, after he walked into the police department seeking a reward, reports CBS Boston.
Kevin Suarez, 31, of Methuen, has been charged with assault with intent to rape, reports the station. He pleaded not guilty to the charge Monday in Lowell District Court, where he reportedly hid from the view of cameras.
According to CBS Boston, police say that Suarez walked into police headquarters asking if he could get a reward for providing information in the case because he was reportedly in the area when the assault happened.
Suspicious officers questioned Suarez for hours before arresting him, reports the station, adding that he has an extensive criminal record, according to police.
The 18-year-old victim was attacked just before 4 a.m. Sunday, when a man attacked her from behind, beat her up and dragged her into an alley. And that time, Suarez was reportedly caught on surveillance camera.
According to CBS Boston, another man reportedly heard her screaming and broke up the attack, allowing her to run to a nearby fire station for help.
"This is a completely random, very unusual event, we don't get many of these, this was pretty tough to see," Police Capt. Tim Crowley said on Monday morning before the arrest was announced. "It's tough to see because this is a completely innocent person who is out walking home, granted it's an early morning hour, but you should be able to walk down the street without this happening to you."
Crowly added: "If the citizen hadn't intervened when he did it would have been much worse."