Special Victims investigators seeking suspects in teen's rape, Center City indecent assault

Detectives in the Special Victims Unit are on the hunt for a man who indecently assaulted a woman in Center City earlier this week and another man who sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl in Southwest Philadelphia.

In the first incident, police say a 24-year-old woman was walking on Broad Street near Locust shortly around 7:15 p.m. Monday when a man walked up behind her and inappropriately touched her before fleeing. The suspect, who police said may be homeless, is described as black, 50 to 60 years old, 6 feet tall with a medium complexion and graying hair. He wore a tan or gray T-shirt at the time of the assault.

Around 3 a.m. Tuesday, police said, a 17-year-old girl reported that she was walking along Elmwood Avenue near 64th Street when a stranger approached her, brandished a handgun and demanded her phone. Investigators said the man then forced her through Connell Park to the back of Delaware Valley High School, where he sexually assaulted her and stole her white iPhone 5. The teen's attacker is described as a black man in his late 20s to early 30s with a dark complexion, unkempt curly hair and long sideburns. He wore a gray zip-up hooded sweatshirt, white T-shirt and blue jeans and was last seen fleeing toward 62nd Street.

Anyone with information in either assault is asked to contact investigators in the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251.