Man arrested in connection with 3 attacks, including rape in Lower Manhattan

LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Authorities have arrested a man in connection with attacks on three women, including the rape of a 40-year-old, all in Lower Manhattan Thursday morning.

Robert Bowie, 20, of the Bronx, is facing several charges including burglary, sex abuse and rape.

According to the New York City Police Department, the suspect followed a 33-year-old into her James Street apartment building and grabbed her, but she fought him off. Two hours later, on the Lower East Side, a 24-year-old woman was followed into her building, but she screamed and he fled.

An hour after that he was at the Baruch Houses. At 9 a.m., police said he walked through an unlocked outside door and up the stairs where he encountered a 40-year-old mother as she entered her apartment. Police accused him of pushing her into the apartment and raping her.

A team of city housing authority workers worked at the building in the Baruch Houses Thursday night to fix the lock on the outside door; it didn't work Thursday morning. A housing authority spokesperson said the same day that it takes "the safety of our residents seriously. And today senior staff visited Baruch Houses, to assess the security measures."

After dark Thursday, the door was fixed.

Security cameras at the houses provided detectives with footage to help them identify the suspect.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.