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Updated 06/08/2011 09:40 AM

Sources: Suspect May Be Behind Four Brooklyn Sex Assaults

By: NY1 News

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Police sources say a man who spoke with police and was arrested Tuesday is suspected of a string of four sexual assaults in Brooklyn, but was only arrested and charged in connection with the latest incident.

As of late Tuesday, 24-year-old William Giraldo, seen above, was awaiting arraignment on charges of rape, robbery, assault, sexual abuse and sexual misconduct in connection with an assault that took place on Saturday.

Authorities say Giraldo followed a 28-year-old woman into the vestibule of her Greenwood Heights apartment, forced her to the ground and raped her.

Giraldo says he appears in this surveillance video, which police previous said shows the suspect.
Giraldo says he appears in this surveillance video, which police previous said shows the suspect.
Police say the suspect was caught on surveillance video at a local Dunkin' Donuts.

When Giraldo turned himself, he said he appeared in the video but had nothing to do with the crimes. Police then arrested him Tuesday evening after questioning him all day.

Police sources told NY1 late Tuesday that police suspect Giraldo of three other attempted rapes in Brooklyn that are still under investigation.

The first connected attack, which took place on March 20 in Park Slope, was caught on surveillance video. A 24-year-old victim was able to get away from her attacker.

Police say the same man also struck on May 3 and May 29 in Bay Ridge, and in one attack he pulled out a knife.

Both women resisted, and the man fled.

Many in Giraldo's neighborhood of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn said they were glad he was off the streets.

"Two months on a spree like this and they couldn't apprehend the suspect? You know, we're kind of worried. Everybody was kind of worried about it," said one local.

"Me personally, I just go about my business every day, and I don't let it alter what I do. I'm just a lot more observant than I was," said another.

However, two neighbors who knew Giraldo said off-camera that he could not have done the crimes.