Cops say they know who sexually assaulted woman at knifepoint

Investigators identified a man they said choked and sexually assaulted a woman at knifepoint early Tuesday morning in Center City and asked for the public's help to locate and arrest him yesterday.

Elvin Tate, 46, is the man whose image was captured in surveillance video from two ATM's near the crime scene, according to Capt. John Darby, of the police Special Victims Unit.

The incident began at about 3 a.m., when Tate allegedly persuaded the 24-year-old victim, who was looking for her roommate, to walk with him from 15th and Locust streets to 15th and Vine under the guise that he knew where her roommate was, Darby said.

"He crafted a story which a normal person might fall victim to," Darby said.

Once at 15th and Vine, Tate allegedly choked the woman at knifepoint, robbed her of her ATM card and a small sum of cash, and sexually assaulted her before fleeing, Darby said.

After assaulting her, he allegedly used her ATM card to try and withdraw money from two ATM's in Center City, Darby said.

Investigators said Tate is known to frequent the area around LOVE Park and the 15th and Locust area, Darby said.

His last known address in Philadelphia was on 28th Street near Vare Avenue, Darby said.

Tate has had previous run-ins with police in Philadelphia, Scranton, and Harrisburg, Darby said.

Anyone with information on Tate's whereabouts is asked to call SVU at 215-685-3251.