Phila. police arrest teen in connection with subway groping

Police have arrested a 14-year old boy and charged him with groping assaults on four women on the Broad Street subway since May.

The youth, not indentified because of his age, was taken into custody Friday, but police announced his arrest yesterday.

The teenager has been charged with aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, and four counts each of reckless endangerment, indecent assault, and simple assault.

The attacks began on May 25 and all took place on subway platforms or stairwells.

Police said an individual grabbed four women, from ages 24 to 58, through their clothes and at times attempted to put his hands in their pants.

Police last week released a SEPTA surveillance photo of the alleged groper in an effort to find him.

SEPTA investigators were "very instrumental" in identifying the alleged assailant with the help of tips from the public following the broadcast of the photo, said Capt. John Darby, commander of the Special Victims Unit.

Darby said the South Philadelphia youth's family also was cooperative with the investigation, and that he was questioned in the presence of his mother.

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