Man accused of posing as cab driver, raping woman in Patchogue

PATCHOGUE (WABC) -- A Long Island man is accused of luring a woman into his car and sexually assaulting her.

Police say 22-year old Adil Raja of Central Islip Raja pulled up to a 22-year old woman who was walking in Patchogue around 4 a.m. Saturday and asked her if she needed a cab.

Police say he was not driving a vehicle that even looked like a cab.

The woman got into the car and told him where she needed to go.

Police say Raja drove her to a different location and then allegedly pointed a BB gun at her and raped her in the back seat.

He then fled the scene.

The woman was able to call 911 and police got a good description of the car. A note went out along all police radios telling them to watch out for the car.

An officer driving in Patchogue noticed a car that fit the description, pulled it over and Raja was arrested.

Prosecutors say they recovered a BB gun and there was matching biological evidence. They added that the victim has identified the suspect.

He is charged with sexual assault. Raja pleaded not guilty and is being held on $750,000 bail.

"It's a disturbing incident but we do believe it's isolated, but we are asking anyone else who may have experience this to call us," said Det. Sgt. Kevin Byrne of the Suffolk County Police.