MIDTOWN — Police have arrested three suspects in connection with a string of violent rapes and robberies across Manhattan and The Bronx earlier this summer.
Isaias Rivera, 31, and Joey Cruz, 26, were charged with rape, robbery and strangulation Monday for three vicious attacks of women dating back to June — including one at the lavish Grand Hyatt Hotel in Midtown, the NYPD said.
Last week police arrested the third man, Fernando Sandel, 26, and slapped him with the same charges.
In each incident, the victims agreed to meet one of the men after posting ads on Backpage.com looking for money in exchange for sex, according to The New York Times.
On June 28, a 20-year-old woman made plans to meet one of the suspects on East 138th Street in Mott Haven at about 11:30 p.m., police said. The two other suspects also showed up, then forced her to the roof of a building before raping her and stealing cash.
On Aug. 3, a 34-year-old woman agreed to meet one of the suspects in a room at the Grand Hyatt Hotel next to Grand Central around 4:25 p.m., police said. When the suspect arrived, he sprayed the woman in the face with an unknown substance and threw her onto a bed.
The two others then entered the room and tied her up, before raping her and stealing her phone and cash, the NYPD added.
The next day, a 32-year-old woman made plans to meet one of the suspects at her Lexington Avenue apartment near Gramercy Park. When the suspect arrived, he Maced the woman and threw her on a bed, police said. His accomplices then came, tied her up and raped her before snatching her laptop, phone and bracelet, the NYPD said.
In all three cases, the victims were taken to area hospitals, treated and released, authorities said.
