The same day that Philadelphia police released a photo of a "person of interest" in connection with the rape of an 11-year-old girl in West Kensington, an angry group of neighbors grabbed and beat the man before turning him over to police.
Officials say 26-year-old Jose Carrasquillo of North Philadelphia was taken into custody at Front and Clearfield after being grabbed and roughed up by neighborhood residents who held him until police arrived.
Carrasquillo was taken to Temple University Hospital in handcuffs for treatment.
He was also facing a DNA screening to positively establish his identity and determine whether he is linked to the case.
Although police initially stressed that Carrasquillo was not wanted for the rape, his photograph bears a striking resemblance to an artist's sketch of the perpetrator released by police on Monday afternoon.
Investigators say Carrasquillo had previously been seen in the backyard where the rape occurred.
Both Carrasquillo and the perpetrator were described as 5' 8" tall, with a thin build. Carrasquillo has tattoos on the left side of his neck -- an Asian symbol and a skull with a cross through a heart and the words "RIP" and "Mom."
Commissioner Charles Ramsey says Carrasquillo is no stranger to police:
"His past history shows a prior sexual assault, but the charges were withdrawn. He has 17 priors -- narcotics, sex, and a few other kinds of cases."
Dim lights
They call this Vigilante Justice!
Hell, if I was there, I probably would kick the living daylights out of him too!
The crime against this child was unbelievable and heinous.
Police say an 11-year-old girl was raped while on her way to school in Philadelphia.The girl was badly injured from Monday morning's attack in the city's Kensington neighborhood and needed surgery.Police Capt. John Darby says the man approached the girl and threatened to shoot her, but didn't display a gun. Police say he made her walk about seven blocks before attacking her in an alley.When I heard what this monster did to this child - I'm thinking, when the police capture him - he must be castrated!
Of course I wasn't alone in my thinking. These neighbors beat and kick the shit of him!
I was just laughing watching the whole scene.
Then suddenly - reality kicked in!
As much as I want this animal to suffer - we all live in a society of laws. We have a court and a justice system. We must obey our system of laws.
These neighbors, as much as I admire them capturing the culprit, committed a crime.
They attacked and brutally beaten another man.
If after beating this animal to a pulp - what would happen if he died in the hospital due to his injuries? This mob would be facing 2nd degree murder charges.
Even worst, what if it wasn't the rapist - but someone that looked like him. The mob just beaten an innocent man.
This man was a "person of interest". No charges has been drawn up against him.
When your adrenaline is running and the mob mentality has heighten, no one is thinking rational. It was all RAGE!
We must stop this vigilantism.
It is chaos. It is uncivil. It is wrong!
So people of Philly - do not glorify this mob of vigilantes. This is completely unacceptable.
Never take the law into your own hands!
