A Bronx man has been arrested in the Manhattan rape of a 10-year-old girl, police say, days after community advocates issued a public plea for help bringing the child sex predator into custody.
The arrest of Drequan Drayton-Howard Wednesday comes more than two weeks after the disturbing attack put East Harlem on edge, and leading to the community demanding action from police and neighbors. He is charged with rape, sex abuse and child endangerment in the Jan. 6 attack.
Investigators allege the suspect, who has a federal arrest history, connected with the girl on an app and met her that night near Third Avenue and East 122nd Street, where he raped her before running off.
Law enforcement sources say as U.S. Marshals and the NYPD were searching for Howard, he walked into the precinct Wednesday morning and surrendered with an attorney by his side.
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Howard is being represented by Kenneth Gilbert, who couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Bail was set at $25,000 cash
The child was taken to a hospital for evaluation, and is expected to be physically OK.
Howard is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 29.
