Police nab 14-year-old alleged South Phila.subway groper

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with several groping incidents that occurred in underground SEPTA concourses along the Broad Street subway in South Philadelphia, police announced yesterday.

The boy, whose name was not released due to his age, was arrested on Friday.

He is charged with indecent assault, aggravated assault, simple assault and several related charges stemming from four incidents in which he allegedly groped and fondled women, police said.

Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said that subway surveillance video of the boy played a crucial role in the arrest.

"SEPTA's cameras were fantastic," Vanore said.

Armed with the video images and information gathered from neighborhood surveys, police were able to track down the boy, who lives on Tasker Street near 18th, Vanore said.

The subway assaults began April 25 and all took place between noon and 5 p.m. The victims ranged in age from 24 to 58, Vanore said.

During the incidents, the suspect allegedly approached the victims from behind and grabbed them, police said. In one instance, he attempted to put his hands down the victim's pants.

In the most recent assault, on July 8, police said the boy allegedly pulled down the victim's pants and knocked her over before fleeing the scene.

Of the four assaults, authorities said, three took place at the Tasker-Morris station and another occurred at the Ellsworth-Federal station.

After accosting the victims, the suspect fled up nearby stairs to the street where he disappeared among pedestrians, police said.

"He knew the area very well," Vanore said, adding that the boy's familiarity with the neighborhood facilitated his escapes. *