Philadelphia police have arrested a man on suspicion of two sexual assaults that occurred within hours of each other in the city's streets, according to NBC Philadelphia. Abdul Ford, 22, faces charges of rape, sexual assault, and related offenses in connection to the events of Sunday night and early Monday morning.
The first assault took place late Sunday evening when Ford allegedly attacked a victim around 10:50 p.m. on the 1600 block of Point Breeze Avenue. A few hours later, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a second incident occurred nearby on the 2000 block of Wharton Street, police said. In both instances, the suspect supposedly grabbed the victims from behind before sexually assaulting them. Despite the trauma, both victims managed to escape, FOX 29 reports.
Officers were able to apprehend Ford after tracing a stolen cell phone belonging to the second victim to the 1300 block of South 22nd Street, as stated by 6abc. This crucial piece of evidence led to the suspect's arrest in connection with the assault.
Both victims were taken to the Special Victims Unit to receive care and support. For individuals affected by sexual violence, resources are accessible through the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and assistance can be sought by contacting the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673. While online court records do not currently list an attorney for Ford, the charges pending against him carry the weight, of serious judicial repercussions.
