Police have arrested a suspect in a brutal sexual assault Wednesday in the subway station at Bowery and Delancey streets.
The incident happened just after 1 a.m. The woman was riding the escalator when, police say, Michael Torres, 29, grabbed her from behind. According to WNBC, he dragged the victim to the end of the J Train platform, threw her on the tracks and began assaulting her. Torres, who was armed with a screwdriver, then took the woman to another section of the station and, investigators say, raped her.
While the attack was underway, an MTA worker came along, the victim saw her light and screamed, promoting the attacker to flee. A source told the Daily News, “that saved her life.” Police found surveillance video, apparently from cameras mounted outside the Bowery Ballroom. They eventually located someone who recognized Torres at the Andrews House shelter on the Bowery. Torres was arrested yesterday about 2 p.m.
Police told the News Torres has 27 prior arrests, mostly on drug and assault charges. In this case, he’s been charged with first-degree rape, assault, a criminal sex act, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon.
The woman was taken to Bellevue Hospital. WPIX, which featured the story on its late news, reports she has severe injuries to her head, chest and ribs.
