Police say 31-year-old Tyrone Haywood, of 80 Winthrop Avenue in New Rochelle, is charged with first-degree rape, first degree criminal sexual act and third-degree robbery. Authorities believe Haywood raped the victim in the back of his girlfriend's car and then stole her two cell phones.
Police estimate the time of the rape at approximately 6-6:30 a.m. After the assault, the victim stated she was dropped off in Mount Vernon and flagged down a car for help. There was a delay in reporting the crime to Bronxville because Mount Vernon started a preliminary investigation.
During the course of the investigation, police learned the attack occurred in Haywood's girlfriend's car. On Wednesday, officers were watching her car at her place of business - the Journal News in Harrison.
While waiting for the judge to issue a search warrant so police could search and seize the car, the girlfriend, 22-year-old Shushawana Barracks, came out of the building and started to clean the inside of the car.
Harrison police placed her under arrest and charged her with tampering with evidence.
The car was seized and will be sent to the crime lab for testing. Haywood showed up at the scene while Barracks was being arrested, and Bronxville police arrested him there.
He is being held without bail and was arraigned Wednesday night. He's due back in court on Tuesday morning.
Haywood is a suspect in several other rape cases in Westchester County, according to authorities. They have had problems prosecuting him because the witnesses wouldn't testify or they have disappeared. The victims are alleged to be prostitutes.
The district attorney's office expects to indict him on the latest charge in the next few days.
