Man Arrested In West Village Sex Attack Has Been Wanted For Months: PD

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A man suspected of multiple sex attacks was arrested and charged after he attacked a woman jogging along the Hudson River Thursday morning, police said.

Carl Phanor, 29, was arrested Thursday after police caught him using the woman's credit card at a Midtown store, NYPD sources told CBS.

Phanor was charged with sexually motivated robbery, robbery, strangulation, predatory sexual assault and a criminal sex act regarding two earlier attacks, police said. The NYPD did not confirm that he'd been charged with Thursday's attack.

The 43-year-old woman was jogging along Pier 45 about 6 a.m., near West and Christopher streets, when a man grabbed her from behind and choked her until she was unconscious, police said.

The attacker proceeded to knock her to the ground and rape her, police said.

Phanor was charged with attacking a 39-year-old jogger in March along the Hudson River Greenway near West and Clarkson streets, authorities said.

The attacker rode his bike near the runner, pushed her to the ground and began to assault her, police said. After sexually assaulting the woman, the man snatched her cell phone and fled on his bike, police said.

Additionally, Phanor was charged with attacking a 48-year-old woman near the FDR Drive service road and East 37th Street on Oct. 6, police said.

NYPD had been trying to find Phanor for seven months before Thursday morning's attack and subsequent arrest.

Phanor's last known address is a homeless shelter on the Lower East Side, police said. He has 18 prior arrests, NYPD sources told CBS.