14-Year-Old Charged In Temple Univ. Attacks

by KYW's Al Novack and David Madden

Philadelphia police have filed charges against a 14-year-old boy in connection with a series of recent assaults around the Temple University campus.

After questioning him, authorities charged the teen in two of three separate robberies and assaults on the edge of the campus in the past month.

Police say the suspect was picked up around 8pm Thursday evening, based in part on a sketch they had been circulating (see related story). Authorities say that in each of three incidents, female students told police they were robbed and assaulted by a young man who first asked to use their cell phones.
 
The most recent attack was reported on February 12th, in the 2000 block of North Carlisle Street. On February 7th, a 21-year-old female was reportedly groped and robbed at knifepoint by a teen suspect  in the 1700 block of Diamond Street.

Police said another assault occurred on February 3rd in the 1600 block of Fontain Street, where the suspect approached a 21-year-old female student, asking to use her cell phone before forcing her to the ground and exposing himself. 
 
As of about noon on Friday, investigators were still trying to determine whether the boy -- whose name was not disclosed because of this age -- could be charged in connection with the February 7th incident. He was being held on 15 counts stemming from the February 3rd and February 12th incidents.

Philadelphia police captain John Darby says the sketch of the perpetrator released last week proved pivotal in leading detectives to the suspect. In fact, family members conceded to police that the sketch was a good likeness of the boy, who is now in juvenile custody.

There was no immediate decision on whether an attempt will be made to try the youth as an adult.