A suspect was arrested Wednesday on the charge of raping a woman at the University City Sheraton in February.
University Police apprehended 20-year-old Jermaine Jackson in connection with another incident at the hotel, but then turned him over to Philadelphia Police, who charged Jackson with the February rape of a woman who was enrolled in a Penn program.
Jackson was stopped Wednesday near 39th and Ludlow streets by two Penn Police detectives on patrol, who observed him acting suspiciously.
The detectives then took Jackson to the Penn Police station at 4040 Chestnut Street, where they linked him to a burglary at the Sheraton in late May, when an individual had tried to unlawfully enter two rooms at the hotel.
Penn Police charged Jackson with criminal trespassing and two counts of burglary in connection with that incident.
While police were questioning Jackson in regard to the May incident, they said his responses gave rise to suspicion that he may have also been involved in last February’s rape.
“His remarks to us while we investigated him indicated that he should be investigated further and charged,” Deputy Chief of Investigations William Danks said.
Danks also noted that Jackson fit the physical description of the rapist given by the victim.
Jackson was then turned over to the Philadelphia Police sex crimes unit.
On Feb. 10, a 21-year-old student who was enrolled in Penn’s English Language Program and who was living at the hotel was raped at gunpoint in her room by a man she did not know.
Although police had a description of the suspect from the victim, there were no leads immediately following the incident.
Police say that the busy weekend on which the rape occurred made the case more challenging. They initially believed the assailant to be a guest at the Sheraton or the guest of a guest there.
“We feel very pleased [with the arrest],” Danks said. “This was a difficult case considering that it was NBA All-Star weekend with large crowds in the hotel.”
Danks added, “It’s nice to have someone like this, who we believe is a predator, taken off the street.”
Jackson, of the 3900 block of Willow Street, has been charged with rape, indecent sexual assault, sexual assault and other related offenses in connection with the rape.
According to Penn Police, Jackson does have a record for three prior arrests on minor charges.
Jackson is currently being held by the Southwest Detectives Division of the Philadelphia Police Department and is awaiting a bail hearing.
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