Washington Heights Bridge Rapist Arrested, Police Say

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A man is facing charges for raping a woman on a bridge that connects Washington Heights to the Bronx, police said.

Pedro Rodriguez, 21, was arrested and charged with first-degree rape in connection with an Aug. 25 attack on the Washington Bridge, police said. Rodriguez, a Bronx resident, is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman on the same bridge in February, police said.

A 20-year-old woman was walking from the Bronx to Manhattan around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 25 when Rodriguez approached her and said "do what I say or I'll kill you," according to a criminal complaint. Rodriguez then forced the woman to the ground and raped her, according to the complaint.

The same man is also connected to another assault that happened on the Washington Bridge on Feb. 20, police said. In that attack, Rodriguez targeted a 26-year-old woman walking across the bridge late at night, showed her a knife, demanded money and then groped her, police said.

Rodriguez is being held on $50,000 cash bail and is set to appear in court on Sept. 13, according to court records.

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