UPDATE: Atlantic City man ordered held in rape attempt
An Atlantic City man accused of attempted rape will stay in jail, a judge ruled Monday. Joseph Lewis is accused of attacking the victim in what the judge called "a brutal broad daylight" attack April 7, outside the McDonald's at the foot of the Atlantic City Expressway. Surveillance footage shows him punching the woman, pulling down her underwear and trying to force her into an alley, Assistant Prosecutor Sean Ruckenstein told the judge during a detention hearing. Read more...
Sherrise Hoskins and Almeen Palmer were lauded by police as heroes after they interrupted an attempted rape last week.
But the Volunteers of America outreach workers are hoping the story brings focus to the problems on the street.
The two knew the victim, who lives homeless between Atlantic City and Pleasantville.
“We talk to her all the time,” Hoskins said of the 61-year-old victim. “She doesn’t really ask for help. If you try to give her stuff, she won’t really take it.”
They were used to seeing the woman near the McDonald’s at the foot of the Atlantic City Expressway.
But it was Palmer who first saw her last Tuesday, being attacked.
The two had parked like they usually do and were walking to work when Palmer suddenly took off.
“Oh, shoot! What’s going on?” Hoskins heard him yell.
That’s when she saw what was happening.
“The lady was getting beat up and raped,” Hoskins told BreakingAC.
The suspect tried to run, “but his pants were down to his knees,” Hoskins said.
Joseph Lewis , 51, was charged and remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
“I ran down on the guy,” Palmer said. “He said something like he thought he knew her. He didn’t know her.”
But the two workers did.
Hoskins had been trying to help the woman for a while but it’s been difficult.
But even they have obstacles.
“Hopefully, this brings light to a lot of the organizations or even the VOA as far as the need for help,” Hoskins said.
“Some people who don’t live out here don’t know the hurt, pain and frustration,” Palmer said. “We do this for real. We’re concerned about the people.”
As for the victim, Hoskins saw her again that night.
She was heading into the Wawa on Delilah Road in Pleasantville, when she saw the familiar face.
“You didn’t get any help?” Hoskins asked her.
“I went to the hospital, they cleaned me up and I took a shower,” the woman replied.
“So, nobody helped her at all,” Hoskins said. “She got raped and she was back on the street.”
