Person of interest in sex assault surrenders

A PERSON OF interest in a pair of sexual assaults in South Philly surrendered to police yesterday, a law-enforcement source said.

Earlier in the day, an arrest warrant had been issued for Raheem Felder, 32, on a parole-violation charge, according to that source.

About 5 p.m., Felder turned himself in to authorities alongside his attorney at the police Special Victims Unit's headquarters in North Philly.

Felder, whose family said they last saw him before Memorial Day, is on parole after being released from prison two years ago on an attempted-murder charge. The Point Breeze resident served 12 years in that case, stemming from an incident in 2001, court records show.

As of last night, police hadn't charged Felder in connection to a brutal home invasion and sexual assault early Monday on Rosewood Street near Moore.

However, sources have identified him as a person of interest in that case and an earlier, similar assault in the same area.

Crime Scene Unit investigators served a search warrant Thursday on Felder's home, on Chadwick Street near Wharton, and recovered clothing that matched the description of what the suspect wore in Monday's attack.

Roberta Felder, Raheem's mother, told the Daily News that she doesn't think he was involved in the two assaults, and implored him to come forward to police.

"I want him to turn himself in; I don't know where he's at," Roberta Felder said. "I'm just worried about him and I want to get to the bottom of this."

In Monday's attack, a masked man broke into the home on Rosewood and stole the victim's car keys, unbeknownst to the sleeping resident, police said.

After reviewing area surveillance video, investigators believe the man left the home, parked the resident's stolen car about two blocks away, and then returned to her home.

The woman, 35, awoke about 5:30 a.m. to find the burglar standing over her. He demanded money, put his hand over her mouth, sexually assaulted her and fled with $10 and her house keys, Capt. John Darby, head of the police Special Victims Unit, said. Officers found the victim's car a few hours later on Moore Street.

He was in his victim's house "for some time," perhaps hiding in the bathroom, until he attacked the resident, Darby said.

Police believe he's the same sociopath who climbed through the window of a home, on Chadwick Street near 17th, early March 26 and choked a female resident while demanding money and sex. That woman was able to fight him off.