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Police Catch Attempted Rape Suspect After Fast Work By Neighbor In East Harlem

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Tuesday quickly caught a suspect in an attempted rape in East Harlem, after he tried to escape when a neighbor confronted him.

Around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched for a call of a possible sexual assault in East Harlem. A 19-year-old woman told police she exited a yellow cab and was walking along Madison Avenue, when the man grabbed her from behind and hurled her down between two parked vehicles in the street, police said.

The suspect when on to slam the woman's head repeatedly into the ice and snow, police said.

A witness heard the screaming and called 911, giving police a detailed description, police said. The man then came outside and approached the suspect, who ran off, police said.

But police caught the suspect and arrested him minutes later, police said.

Demetrius Edwards, 34, of Brooklyn, was charged with attempted rape.

The woman was taken to Harlem Hospital, where she was treated and released, police said.

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