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Suspect in 2 Knifepoint Sex Assaults in Flushing Park Apprehended: NYPD

By  Ben Fractenberg and Katie Honan | July 20, 2017 3:56pm | Updated on July 21, 2017 4:40pm

 A woman was sexually assaulted in a Flushing park Wednesday night, police said.
A woman was sexually assaulted in a Flushing park Wednesday night, police said.
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Shutterstock/Katrina Brown

FLUSHING — The man police believe sexually assaulted at least two women in a wooded area at Kissena Corridor Park over the course of two days was charged in both crimes Friday, officials said.

Charles Tobin, 29, was apprehended around the park near Main Street and 56th Avenue on about 11 p.m. Thursday police said. The Queens man was charged with rape, two counts of robbery, two counts of criminal sex act, sex abuse and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. 

Tobin was charged in two knifepoint attacks earlier this week — including one against a 17-year-old girl, according to the NYPD.

He has 12 prior arrests for offenses including robbery, assault and drug possession, an NYPD spokesman said. 

In the first attack, he approached a 32-year-old woman from behind with a knife at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and demanded cash, police said. After she gave him $50, he led her to a wooded section of the park and forced her to perform a sexual act on him before raping her.

After the attack, they walked back into the park and the suspect fled, police said. 

The victim went to Bellevue Hospital through private transportation, where she was treated and released.

On Wednesday, at around 10:30 p.m., he approached the teen with a knife and took her to the wooded part of the park where he sexually assaulted her, police said.

She reported the attack to a nearby hospital, where she was treated.

Tobin, who lives on Kissena Boulevard near Queens College, was expected to be arraigned in Queens Criminal Court.