Police Arrest Creep Wanted For East Village Attempted Rape: NYPD

EAST VILLAGE, NY — Police nabbed the man accused of luring a woman outside of her apartment building's laundry room Saturday and trying to rape her, authorities said.

Officers arrested Julio Mendez, 43, early Tuesday morning for allegedly attacking a 46-year-old woman and trying to rape her at the Tanya Towers complex on East 13th Street near Avenue B, police said.

The victim was inside the building's laundry room at about 11:15 a.m. when Mendez allegedly approached her and persuaded her to follow him outside.

A struggle ensued when he grabbed the woman's arm and neck and the pair fell to the ground. Mendez allegedly tried to cover her mouth and tear her clothes off, but the victim scared him off when she screamed, a police spokesman said.

She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was treated and released.

Police said Mendez has four prior arrests, including for rape and attempted murder.

He was charged with attempted rape, sexual abuse, criminal obstruction of breathing, assault and menacing for the Saturday attack, officials said.

Photo courtesy of NYPD