Police Arrest Harlem Nurse's Attempted Rapist, NYPD Says

HARLEM, NY — A man is facing charges for attempting to rape a nurse returning home to her Harlem apartment building after working a shift on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, an NYPD spokesperson said.

Jason Roberts, 30, was arrested Monday and charged with attempted rape, robbery and burglary, police said. The Bronx resident is accused of following a 32-year-old woman into her West 149th Street building on Friday night, and attacking her in the building, police said.

Roberts punched the nurse in the face and attempted to rip off her pants, but the nurse fought him off, police said. The attempted rapist fled the building with the woman's phone, an NYPD spokesperson said.

The nurse suffered pain and bruising during the attack, but refused medical attention at the scene, police said.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke about the attack during his Monday press briefing.

"We're obviously very pained anytime anybody is attacked, particularly someone who is doing such noble work for all of us," de Blasio said. "We will certainly bring the individual involved, the perpetrator to justice. There's no question, and we will support that nurse in every way we can."