Teen Arrested For Attempted Harlem Rape, Police Say

HARLEM, NY — A teenager is facing charges of attempted rape after attacking a woman in the stairwell of her Harlem apartment building, police said.

The 16-year-old boy was arrested Sunday and charged with first-degree attempted rape, second-degree sexually motivated burglary and second-degree sexually motivated assault, police said. He is accused of following a 40-year-old woman into her West 148th Street building early Saturday morning and attacking her on the building's main staircase, police said.

The woman was able to fight her attacker off as he attempted to sexually assault her, police said. She was taken to Harlem hospital and treated for minor injuries suffered during the attack.

Police did not release the name of the attacker due to his age.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).