Accused Philly Stalker, Rapist Targeted Women In 8 States: Police

PHILADELPHIA — The man accused of stalking, raping, and robbing women at gunpoint in Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs will likely face charges in eight states, authorities said Monday.

Kevin Bennett, 28, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was arrested Saturday by Indianapolis police in connection with a series of stalking and rape incidents that occurred in Philadelphia from May 15 through May 18.

During a news conference Monday, local and federal authorities said Bennett is a suspect in similar incidents in six southern states in addition to Pennsylvania and Indiana.

Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Branwen McNabb said the DA's office in Philadelphia plans to charge Bennett with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, burglary, robbery, stalking, firearm crimes, and related crimes. He is in custody in Indianapolis and it's unclear when he will be extradited to Philadelphia, as District Attorney Larry Krasner said he may be prosecuted there first.

Bennett's arrest came through cooperation among local law enforcement and the FBI, which surveilled Bennett in Indianapolis before his arrest Saturday after he was identified as the suspect, which FBI Special Agent Mike Breslin said came through agents in Memphis, Tennessee.

Bennett was taken into custody just 36 hours after Indiana-based FBI agents surveilled him, Breslin said.

When Bennett was taken into custody, he had two firearms, one of which matched the description of the firearm used in the local incidents, according to McNabb. Krasner said Bennett is a convicted felon.

Philadelphia Police Captain Mark Bergman of the Special Victims Unit said all but one of Bennett's alleged victims were employed at gentleman's clubs, and that alleged victims in other states also work at gentleman's clubs.

Bergman said it's unclear why Bennett was in Philadelphia or if he has any connections to the area.

Below are details of the local incidents:

The first incident occurred at about 2:45 a.m. on May 15 on the 6100 block of Passyunk Avenue. Police said a bartender from Sin City was followed home to Media by a man, described as being black and operating a silver Dodge Charger. A witness from the club told police that the vehicle had no visible tag. The complainant's boyfriend was home and the man fled in his vehicle. Video from the club shows a gray Dodge in the parking lot.

Then at midnight on May 16, a woman left Delilah's on the 100 block of Spring Garden Street when she realized a gray Dodge Charger was following her on her way home to West Norriton. She tried to evade the vehicle by making several turns and eventually went to a Wawa in an attempt to get the vehicle tag. The tag was obstructed due to a tag cover. She then called 911 and made a report with the West Norriton Township Police Department.

Later that morning at 5 a.m., a woman was in her vehicle on the 3400 block of North 11th Street when she noticed a man get out of a vehicle a few cars ahead of her. The man came up to her, pointed a silver handgun at her, and demanded she exit her car. He moved her to an alley and sexually assaulted her, authorities said.

Police said the assaulter was a stocky black man with braids and wearing all black clothing. The vehicle was a gray Dodge Charger with tinted windows and no tag.

The next incident occurred at 9:30 p.m. on the 1500 block of Hamilton Street. Police said a woman left her job at The Oasis, 6700 Essington Ave., and drove home. When she entered her apartment parking garage, a gray Dodge Charger followed her vehicle into the area when the security gate opened. Police said the woman normally parks on the first level but continued to the third level. The man parked three cars from her, then walked around. When the man was walking, she left the garage and called 911.

Police said the man was described as black, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall wearing a black hoodie, a white shirt, and black pants.

Then at midnight on May 18, an employee was going home from working at Cheerleaders on Front Street when she saw a man in her apartment complex on the 900 block of North Eighth Street. The man slid along the wall towards the complaint, who ran screaming to a neighbor's apartment. The man left the area. Video footage showed a black male in dark clothing entering the building behind residents, officials said.

Lastly, two employees of Cheerleaders were sexually assaulted in an apartment on the 900 block of North Eighth Street at 10:02 a.m. on May 18. Police said a man posed as an electrical worker and got inside their apartment. Once inside he pulled out a silver handgun, then sexually assaulted and robbed both complainants. He fled southbound on Eighth Street towards Poplar Street.