When asked why police did not disclose the information on the Aug. 12 attacks prior to the Sept. 1 rape, Skrynecki said police were “still trying to determine whether there was relativity between those two cases that were known to us.

“We internally had stepped up our responses in that area,” he added. “We had supplied more patrol officers to those areas. The investigation was cranked up at that point in time so it was decision that we had to make and clearly once the Valley Stream case took place, the pieces started to fall together and we saw this as a pattern.”

Fare also said that after it became clear there was a crime pattern in the area, he asked the village's Public Safety and Auxiliary Police officers to be extra vigilant.

Peterkin is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree attempted sexual abuse, second-degree assault and strangulation. He is being charged as an adult and could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

He was arraigned in First District Court on Monday and was ordered held without bail. Police say the investigation is continuing.