Police continue to search for East Falls rape suspect

Philadelphia police are still searching for a man who allegedly raped a woman earlier this month on the 3600 block of Calumet Street in East Falls.

At around 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 4, police say the unknown man drove up to the woman on the 3600 block of Fisk Avenue. After a short conversation, the woman got into the man’s car. The man then reportedly drove to nearby Calumet Street, where he allegedly raped the woman before telling her to exit the car.

Capt. Stephen Glenn of the 39th Police District, which includes the 3600 block of Calumet, said the incident is not indicative of any pattern of rape in the area.

“I don’t have a rape problem in the 39th District,” said Glenn.

Nearby neighbors were accordingly surprised to learn of what unfolded on the quiet residential street.

Christine Ferraro has lived on the block for a little more than a year. She said she’s never heard about a sexual assault occurring there. “It’s a lot of families,” she said.

Roxanne DeStouet, who has lived in East Falls for more than 25 years, also didn’t hear anything about the incident.

“It’s sad because I don’t like to see females taken advantage of,” said DeStouet. “And to think that people are stalking women, that upsets me.”

DeStouet said it’s generally safe to walk the street there at night.