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Harlem Sex Assault Suspect Escapes From Courthouse

By DNAinfo Staff on September 14, 2011 6:31pm

Derrick Harris, 41, accused of attempted rape, allegedly escaped from the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse early Wednesday morning.
Derrick Harris, 41, accused of attempted rape, allegedly escaped from the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse early Wednesday morning.
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MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — An ex-con recently charged with a violent sexual assault in Harlem escaped NYPD custody at the Manhattan courthouse early Wednesday morning after his arraignment and was caught hours later in his apartment, police said.

Derrick Harris, 41, is charged with savagely beating a 43-year-old woman and trying to rape her at his apartment. When she tried to climb out of the window to escape, he pulled her back into the apartment by her hair, according to court papers.

During the attack on Monday, he allegedly hit the woman, an acquaintance, in the head several times and left her bruised and in pain, prosecutors said.

Harris, who has 13 arrests and four felony convictions for weapon and drugs, escaped the 100 Centre St. criminal courthouse at 2:15 a.m. Wednesday shortly after he was ordered held on $250,000 bail for criminal sex act, sex abuse, attempted rape, unlawful imprisonment and marijuana possession charges.

He was picked up at his apartment around five hours later, police said.

Harris was not seen on surveillance leaving through a public exit so he must have slipped out through a secure area, a court source with knowledge of the case said. 

Police did not comment on how they lost track of Harris.

The suspect was awaiting arraignment on the escape charge Wednesday evening.