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Police Arrest Suspect in WaHi Sexual Assault

By Amy Zimmer | July 5, 2011 7:23am | Updated on July 5, 2011 11:12am

By Amy Zimmer

DNAinfo News Editor

MANHATTAN — Police arrested a man Monday after he allegedly sexually attacked a woman at knifepoint in Washington Heights last month.

Ray Diaz, 23, who lives on Centre Mall in Brooklyn, was charged with predatory sexual assault and robbery, police said.

He allegedly attacked a 37-year-old woman in her apartment building on June 11, threatening her with a knife on the fifth floor around 2:15 a.m. and then forcing her up to the eighth floor.

Police said he sexually assaulted her and robbed her of jewelry, cash, a cell phone and her keys, DNAinfo reported.

This incident and two other recent unsolved sexual attacks in Upper Manhattan have sparked fear in Inwood and Washington Heights.

Residents gathered last week in uptown parks to reclaim their streets and parks in events organized by at least three neighborhood groups hoping to empower locals to feel comfortable at all hours.