NYPD makes 2 arrests in separate West Side attacks on women
WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Two men are now behind bars accused of sexual assaults along the West Side of Manhattan.
"These are highly unusual cases to have to have two separate stranger attempted rapes in a particular location," said James Essig, Chief of Detectives, NYPD
Detectives said Friday that 21-year-old Jhonathan Yahir Cortes Lopez attacked two women in a span of five hours inside Riverside Park on Tuesday near 89th and 79th streets.
The women said he grabbed them and made explicit comments. They also described the bike he was on and the jersey he was wearing.
Investigators were able to track Cortes Lopez to a building on West 125th Street Thursday.
"Detectives arrived at the fourth floor, where they observed the male in the video with a similar bicycle, as well as the red number '40' shirt. That male was taken into custody," Essig said.
Cortes Lopez also apparently admitted he grabbed a woman on June 25 at 111th Street and Amsterdam.
Then Thursday afternoon, police arrested 39-year-old Luc Tatchiem Noubissi for allegedly tackling a woman to the ground in Riverside Park South near 59th Street.
The woman says he took off with her phone as she tried to call for help.
WATCH: NYPD announces arrests in West Side assaults on women
A big part of this investigation was a chain she managed to take from the man.
"During the interrogation, he made incriminating statements, including leaving his chain on the scene and identifying himself on the scene," Essig said.
Both men are charged with attempted rape, sexual abuse, and assault, among other crimes.
Neither of them has any prior arrests.
Detectives say geolocation helped them notify people living in the area where these attacks happened.
They were able to send specific alerts on apps and Facebook to people who live in certain zip codes.
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