A Penn Hills man, Raymond Byrdsong Jr., was apprehended on rape charges last night after eluding police for nearly a month. Byrdsong, 38, was wanted in connection with a sexual assault that occurred on December 12, as reported by WPXI.
According to the victim's account, Byrdsong forcibly took her into her own home's basement, where he assaulted her. After the assault, the victim managed to escape and contact law enforcement from her mother's residence. Found by Penn Hills officers in a running vehicle outside the home, Byrdsong sped off when they attempted to detain him, as detailed by CBS News Pittsburgh.
Earlier in the week, Allegheny County Sheriffs were reached out by Penn Hills Police to assist in locating Byrdsong. Eventually, yesterday, officials were tipped off that he was hiding in a house on Shenandoah Drive. The Sheriff's Office moved to the residence around 7 p.m., where they found Byrdsong evading arrest beneath a bed, concealed by a blanket atop him.
Detectives took him into custody without further incident, and he is now being held in the Allegheny County Jail. Byrdsong is facing charges that include rape, aggravated indecent assault, and sexual assault.
