Black Man Accused of Rape Told Victim He Targeted Her ‘Because She’s White’

An African American man arrested in Pittsburgh and accused of rape was also charged with ethnic intimidation for allegedly telling his victim he targeted her “because she’s white.”

Pittsburgh police announced the arrest of Lee Harris, 47, for the November 6 attack of a woman in the city’s Hazelwood neighborhood. Officials also noted that Harris had to be subdued by a K9 unit, according to Pittsburgh’s Action 4 News.

During the investigation police took testimony from the victim who told them that she had seen Harris in the neighborhood but had never interacted with him before he accosted her.

The victim told police that Harris pulled a knife on her and forced her into an abandoned building near Watson and Jumonville streets.

She then said Harris forced her into a second story room where he raped her and then threatened her life if she called police. Additionally, the woman told police she asked him why he was attacking her and Harris said he targeted her “because you’re white.”

The suspect was hit with a series of charges, including unlawful restraint, possession of an instrument of crime, rape, sexual assault, and ethnic intimidation, police said.

After being located by a SWAT team and rooted out with the K9 unit, the suspect was taken to UPMC Mercy for treatment of dog bites, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.