Alleged Rape Suspect Arrested; Woman Says He Raped Her ‘Because She’s White’

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Public safety spokeswoman Sonya Toler said officers determined 47-year-old Lee Harris was inside an apartment in the 5200 block of Gertrude Street in Hazelwood early Saturday morning.

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According to the criminal complaint, Harris ordered a woman at knife-point into an abandoned building in September.

The victim, who is not being identified since she is a victim of sexual assault, told police she knew Harris from seeing him in the neighborhood before but she never knew his name and didn’t have a relationship with him.

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In the criminal complaint, police state the victim and Harris approached the intersection of Watson and Jumonville streets, and Harris “pulled out a knife from his pocket, put it to her neck and ordered Jane Doe to walk to an abandoned building.”

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Once inside, “she was forced to go to the second floor where Harris pushed her into a small room.” It’s there he allegedly assaulted, raped and threatened the woman.

When she asked why he was doing it, he told her “because you’re white.”

Harris was arrested on a series of charges including rape, sexual assault and ethnic intimidation.

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