After an arrest for a series of sexual assaults in Queens, some city police officers were honored Wednesday. NY1's Shannan Ferry filed the following report.
Thanks to a team of investigators, an alleged sexual predator is off the streets.
After years of combing through evidence, police last week charged Mark Andrade, 45, with attempted rape, and called him a suspect in five other attacks. They all happened in Forest Park in Queens, police said.
"We were deeply concerned that this would result in a very severe catastrophic event," said Deputy Chief Michael Osgood of the NYPD Special Victims Division.
That's because police say the suspect became progressively more violent, eventually using a stun gun on two victims. The alleged attacks took place from 2011 to 2013, but a break in the case came only last week.
After Andrade was arrested in Nassau County for grand larceny last week, police say they matched him to an attempted rape in 2013. In that case, investigators had taken a sample of the attacker's DNA from a beer bottle that the victim snatched from his jacket.
"She actually reached into his pocket during the fight, and grabs the item and throws it," Osgood said.
So far, Andrade has been charged in that case only. But because the attacks — one rape and five attempted rapes — occurred on or near the same jogging path in Forest Park, police suspect the same person is responsible.
Queens City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley said her constituents have been hoping for an arrest for years, and felt it was important to honor the city police department for its efforts.
"We shouldn't have to worry about someone trying to attack women," Crowley said. "Unfortunately, the reality was we did."
"It's a great feeling, but it's an even better feeling for us that we can bring closure to our six victims," Osgood said.
Investigators say that, for now, the suspect will be charged only with the attack in which they have his DNA match for, but the investigation is ongoing.