Cops grab suspect in sex attack
A 23-year-old woman was grabbed in front of a Washington Heights church and sexually assaulted by a man who threatened to stab her if she cried out for help, police said Wednesday.
The suspect — who was taken into custody Wednesday, after his picture was released to media — ran up behind the unsuspecting victim about 11:20 p.m. Monday outside of St. Rose of Lima’s Church on W. 165th St. near Amsterdam Ave.
The woman said her attacker wrapped his arms around her, covered her mouth with his hand, then dragged her under a nearby awning and threatened to stab her if she screamed, according to police.
The attacker threw the woman against a wall and pulled her pants down. He tried but was unable to rape the woman, then forced her to perform oral sex on him.
After the assault, police said, he headed east as a passerby came to the woman’s aid. She was treated at a nearby hospital.
The suspect, 20-yearold Xavier Lazu, lives a block away from the church. Police found him in the area Wednesday, wearing an outfit similar to what he wore in the surveillance photo, cops said.
He’s charged with attempted rape, criminal sex act and sex abuse.