Senator pressures NYPD to solve Queens rapes

QUEENS - Queens Democrat Malcolm Smith is vowing that if no one is arrested, then he's going to ask Gov. David Paterson to send in the State Police and the National Guard.

At least a dozen women have been raped in southeastern section of Queens since November. No suspects have been arrested.

The latest incident happened at 12:20 Friday morning on 145th Avenue. According to investigators, an 18-year-old woman was pushed to the ground by a man armed with a knife. She suffered a cut to her hand, but got away.

This incident is linked to five other attacks on women in Queens, police said. In three cases the victims were at a bus when the attacker struck.

Some critics believe police would be working harder if the assaults happened in Manhattan.

The New York City Police Department released a sketch of the suspect on Thursday. The department is also offering a $12,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. all calls are kept confidential.

In addition to the ongoing investigation, other measures implemented include uniformed officers boarding buses and distributing sketches of the suspect, as well as police cars with turrent lights on following buses along the bus routes.

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WEB PRODUCED BY: Bob Monek, Lakisha Bostick

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