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Bronx Man Charged In Three Attacks On Women In Lower East Side

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A 20-year-old man has been arrested on charges he raped one woman and assaulted two others in the Lower East Side this week.

Robert Bowie, of the Bronx, was arrested early Saturday on charges he attacked all three women within the span of just three hours on Thursday, authorities said.

According to police, Bowie first targeted a woman as she entered her building on James Street around 5:40 a.m. They said he tried to rape and rob the woman, but she fought him off and he fled.

Then, around 7:40 a.m., police said Bowie struck again as he followed another woman into her building on Broome Street. This time, police said he grabbed the victim by the shoulders and took her ID. The victim screamed and Bowie took off, police said.

In the third attack, police said Bowie was already inside the building at the Baruch Houses when he approached the victim around 8:45 a.m. Investigators said he pushed the woman into her apartment, raped her and stole her cellphone before taking off.

Residents said the suspect could have gained access to the building with little effort because a door there has been broken for some time.

Bowie is facing a slew of charges for all three attacks, including rape, sex abuse, robbery and burglary.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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