Detectives in East Harlem nabbed on Tuesday a homeless man whom they say raped a woman in the neighborhood the day before — and has a list of prior arrests, including for past sexual abuses, police reported.
Geovanni Romero Gonzalez, 26, who lives at a Randall’s Island homeless shelter, was picked up on May 9 for allegedly sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman during the early hours of May 8 in the area of East 111th Street and 2nd Avenue.
Police accuse Gonzalez of chasing down and raping his victim at around 1:40 a.m. on Monday morning before making off with her bag and phone. Authorities said the woman had apparently attempted to make a getaway on foot minutes after her attacker had stopped her in the street and attempted to come on to her.
Police sources said they were able to track Gonzalez using surveillance footage.
Law enforcement sources noted that Gonzalez was arrested in September of 2021 for sexual abuse in the confines of the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights, Queens and assault in January of 2023, also in the confines of the 115th Precinct. Police say he was most recently charged for resisting arrest last month for in the confines of the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst, Queens.
Gonzalez attempted to turn away from the press as he was marched out of the Special Victims Unit on Tuesday night in shackles.
“I don’t know,” Gonzalez told reporters as he was placed in the back of an unmarked police vehicle in an attempt to deny knowledge of the crime.
Gonzalez is charged with rape, robbery, stalking, and sex abuse.
