Police Still Searching For Brutal Kensington Rapist
The level of violence in the Kensington attacks was the driving force behind the decision to flood the area with police, Green said yesterday. At least four women have been attacked since October by a man who encountered them walking near Kensington Avenue at night. In each case, the attacker beat the victim with his fists, causing facial fractures and in one case breaking a victim’s jaw. One woman was so badly injured, police have been unable to interview her. Police are not sure whether the same person is responsible for all the attacks, and have said there are differences between the cases. A composite sketch of the man has been released, although only one of the victims could describe her attacker’s race. She said he was black, in his 20s or 30s, 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches, and about 230 pounds. He had a beard or goatee. She said he wore glasses, but other victims said he did not. Anyone with information is being asked to call police. Police believe the assaults, which occurred in vacant lots, alleys, a cemetery, and near train tracks, are not connected to four assaults they linked to a Northeast Philadelphia man last month. During the investigation into the string of assaults in Kensington, police uncovered another series of four rapes that they believe were committed by Kevin Maxwell. Maxwell, 25, of the 3500 block of Woodhaven Road, has denied raping the women but admitted paying them for sex. He faces charges in four attacks. [via PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER]
Veteran Philly Cop Busted In Boy Sex Sting
A veteran Philadelphia police officer has been charged with soliciting an undercover officer he thought was a teenage boy, authorities said yesterday. The yearlong investigation began after a 15-year-old Northeast Philadelphia boy told police that a man had approached him and offered money to take nude photographs, Chief Inspector Anthony DiLacqua told reporters. The boy refused, but he later saw the same man driving around the neighborhood. He copied down the license plate and contacted police. The car belonged to Adrian Makuch, a 21-year veteran of the force. Investigators started surveillance, DiLacqua said “and we began to see a pattern that was very alarming.” Makuch, he said, appeared to be driving around looking for boys. Investigators placed an undercover officer on the streets, and Makuch eventually made contact, DiLacqua said. “I also have to admit that we got a little lucky,” he said. “It’s a bit like fishing. We threw bait out there in a very big lake.” DiLacqua said that the undercover officer appears to be a minor, and that Makuch “actually made comments about him being underage.” DiLacqua said Makuch had offered the undercover officer money to take nude photographs of him and then solicited him for sex. [via PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER]
Ex-Fox29 Anchor Mulling Run For Congress, Meehan Not Amused
More than two years after she and her husband Larry Mendte became the center of a local media firestorm, former news TV news anchor Dawn Stensland is considering a GOP run for Congress in the 7th District, a move that could significantly shake up what has been a clear primary field for Pat Meehan. If she ultimately got into the race—and a decision doesn’t seem imminent—Stensland would likely benefit from a raft of early, free publicity that could make her formidable, even as the party establishment is firmly behind Meehan, the former U.S. Attorney. Stensland already has name recognition not only from her eight years as Fox29’s news anchor, but also from the scandal that embroiled her husband for months last year, as Mendte admitted having an “improper” relationship with his CBS3 co-anchor Alycia Lane, eventually got a probation sentence for hacking and leaking Lane’s e-mails—and Stensland won some plaudits in media circles for handling the whole thing with grace. [via PA2010]