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Arrest made in sex assault at SEPTA station

A Southwest Philadelphia man was arrested Wednesday in the attempted rape of a woman in SEPTA's Jefferson Station on Monday afternoon.

Reginald Green (left) has been arrested in an assault at SEPTA's Jefferson Station. (Photos from Philadelphia police and Steven M. Falk / Staff)
Reginald Green (left) has been arrested in an assault at SEPTA's Jefferson Station. (Photos from Philadelphia police and Steven M. Falk / Staff)Read more

A Southwest Philadelphia man was arrested Wednesday in the attempted rape of a woman in SEPTA's Jefferson Station on Monday afternoon.

Police say Reginald Green, 26, attacked the 27-year-old woman, whom he had met about a half-hour before the 1 p.m. assault in the station, formerly Market East. He was charged with attempted rape, aggravated indecent assault, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, robbery, and related offenses.

The woman, who police say is not from the area and did not know Green, met him near the station at 10th and Filbert Streets. The two spoke, then went inside, said Capt. John Darby of the Special Victims Unit.

Police said Green asked the woman for sex in a "remote" area away from the platform - a work space behind an elevator. Then, Darby said, he tried to assault her sexually, and when she tried to fight him off, punched and kicked her.

The woman suffered "some pretty severe injuries" to her face, mouth, and eye, Darby said. "He basically pummeled her."

The two struggled, and Green fled, police said. The woman then alerted SEPTA police, Darby said. She was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Darby said Green spoke to the woman for "an extended period of time" before he led her into the station.

Green took some items from the woman during the attack, police said, though they did not say what he took.

Darby said SEPTA's vast network of cameras - 13,000 in all - helped officers locate clear footage of Green quickly, and credited officers for recognizing him.

Darby called Jefferson Station, a busy commuter hub, "one of the most secure places in the city, one of the safest places you can be."

Green had 11 previous arrests, Darby said. He pleaded guilty to indecent exposure in 2009 and was sentenced to two years of probation.

Last Wednesday, Green was sentenced to nine months' probation for retail theft. He was also sentenced to three days in prison after being found in contempt of court.

According to court documents, he was released two days before Monday's assault.