Police ID suspect in parking garage rape

The Pittsburgh man arrested New Year's Day in the rape and beating of a woman in a Franklintown parking garage was on the run from authorities in Western Pennsylvania in connection with another sexual offense, court records show.

Police said Steven Woodson, 32, attacked a 33-year-old woman as she walked to her car in a garage at 17th and Callowhill Streets around 10:35 a.m. Thursday.

The woman told investigators she was getting off a second-floor elevator when she was approached from behind.

A man placed his hand over her mouth and demanded money, police said. When the woman offered her purse, the assailant said he wanted cash only, and choked the victim until she lost consciousness.

When the woman woke up, she was between two parked cars, with the man on top of her. He told her to take the battery out of her cellphone, and when she wasn't able to remove it, he beat her about the head and face, and she lost consciousness.

Police said the woman was sexually assaulted when she regained consciousness. At one point, the woman was able to break free, and she ran toward another car, screaming for help.

The suspect fled but was stopped by officers in the 400 block of North 17th Street about 11 a.m. Thursday, police said.

Woodson is being charged with rape, attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery and other offenses, officials said.

According to court records, Woodson is wanted on a bench warrant in connection with an arrest last year in Allegheny County. On May 19, Port Authority Police there arrested Woodson for indecent exposure, open lewdness, and harassment after he allegedly masturbated in front of a woman on a trolley.

In November, Woodson posted $10,000 bail and was released, court records show. A month later, the records show, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear at a hearing, said his lawyer, Kevin Abramovitz.

Also in November, a Philadelphia judge issued a warrant for Woodson's arrest for violating the conditions of his probation in a 1998 attempted murder and robbery case.

In that case, Common Pleas Court Judge Patricia McInerney sentenced Woodson to seven to 15 years after he was found guilty of attempted murder, robbery, aggravated assault and other charges.

It is unclear from the records how much of his sentence Woodson served.

In 2011, he was arrested again in Forrest County in Western Pennsylvania for possessing an instrument of crime. That case was dismissed.