Camden County police nab 29-year-old suspected serial rapist

Police on Friday night apprehended a suspected serial rapist who was being sought in the sexual assault of a woman in Camden on Sunday.

Andre D. Wesley, 29, was taken into custody around 9:20 p.m. at his home in the unit block of Elmwood Court in Willingboro, said Dan Keashen, a spokesman for the Camden County Police Department.

Wesley was watching police search his home when he approached the home armed with a 12-inch butcher knife, Keashen said. "He was attempting to commit suicide by cop," Keashen said.

Police used a Taser to subdue Wesley and take him into custody.

Wesley was taken to Camden County police headquarters to be processed and then was expected to be transferred to the Camden County Correctional Facility, where he will be held on $2 million bail, Keashen said.

Wesley, who was charged with aggravated sexual assault, attempted murder, and related offenses, is a registered sex offender with five felony convictions, police said.

He was identified by police as the suspect at a news conference earlier Friday. Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson said Wesley was driving a white van late Sunday afternoon when he encouraged a young woman to step inside.

Wesley, who was armed with a knife, then "sexually assaulted her and brutally victimized her," Thomson said. "He essentially left her for dead and then left the area."

Police found the woman, whose age was not released, in the 900 block of South Third Street shortly before 6:30 p.m. She was treated at Cooper University Hospital.

"It was clear to us that this was a very sick and deranged individual," Thomson said.

lferresadurni@philly.com @luisferre 856-779-3882

Staff writer Robert Moran contributed to this article.