Father speaks out as police search for suspect in South Philly home invasion, sex assault of girl

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Police Department's Special Victims Unit is asking for the public's help to identify a suspect wanted in connection with the indecent assault of a teenage girl.

A South Philadelphia father describing the anguish his family feels after police say the man caught on surveillance burglarized their home while they were sleeping and sexually assaulted the man’s 15-year-old daughter.

Police say the man entered a private residence on the 2500 block of South 3rd Street on September 21 around 10:30 p.m. 

Authorities say the man entered the alleyway from 3rd Street and American and got into the residence through a back window.

"That concerns us, obviously. Someone to be that brazen at that time of night. To enter someone’s home like that," Captain James Kearney, Commanding Officer of SVU said.

The victim’s father tells FOX 29 that the suspect entered his home through a second-floor window, in an unoccupied bedroom. "Second floor. Second floor. Never think somebody can go to the second-floor windows."

While inside the residence, the man used a flashlight to go through drawers before sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, police say. The father added an 8-year-old daughter was also sleeping in the same bedroom.

Officials say the teen's wallet and Visa card were also stolen by the suspect, as well as her piggy bank.

"To do this type of crime, even in the midst of a burglary that’s so brazen, we don’t want to see it escalate and we want to get this guy off the street as soon as we can," Captain Kearney stated.

"Everybody cried and scared, seeing people inside the room," the victim’s father described the aftermath.

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The suspect later fled the home and was last seen walking south on the 2600 block of South Hancock Street, according to authorities.

In describing what they could see in the surveillance video, Captain Kearney explained, "When he exits, you can see him go into another alley with a flashlight, that he’s trying to do the same thing, that he’s trying to get into another alley. So that’s concerning for us, obviously. Was he going to commit another one? We don’t know, but we want to identify him and get him off the street."

The man is described as someone in his late teens or early twenties, with black curly hair and a goatee. He was wearing a dark shirt, light blue, skinny jeans and white sneakers.

During a press conference, Captain Kearney talked about the suspect, saying, "I think it was a projected burglary that turned into something more sinister. And, make no doubt about it…that’s sinister. That’s concerning. That’s not somebody looking to take some cash. That’s somebody who has now elevated their crime to something more sinister."

The incident is surprising to people who live on the block.

"We never had robberies. It’s a tight neighborhood," explained neighbor Nacho Perez.

"That kind of really scared us, especially me, as a female," said Reyna Smith.

Police think someone out there knows who the man is and they’re hoping people come forward with information.

"This neighborhood don’t tolerate that," Perez added. "I’d like to see him go to jail for a while, no doubt about that."

Anyone with information on the incident or suspect is asked to contact Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251.

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Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, here. All tips are confidential.

Click here to find resources for victims of violence in Philadelphia.