SPRINGFIELD, Mass., July 2 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts man who allegedly raped his ex-girlfriend at knifepoint was arrested after following her to a police station after the incident, police said.
The 38-year-old victim was inside her Springfield home with her 14-year-old son when Samuel Aponte, 36, of Virginia allegedly broke through a window at 3 a.m., tied up her son with an electrical cord and raped the woman. He threatened her not to go to the police but when Aponte left, the woman drove to the nearby police station, not realizing Aponte was still following her.
The Boston Herald said Tuesday a friend called the victim while she was inside talking to officers and said Aponte was outside waiting for her.
Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney said officers went outside to look for Aponte and he took off on foot. Officers managed to track him down and arrest him. Delaney said because Aponte is not from the area he may not have realized the building was a police station.
He praised the victim for coming directly to report the attack.
"The victim did a great job coming to the police department right away to seek shelter. ... Her quick action was what helped us to apprehend the suspect right away," Delaney said.
