Police: Hamden Man Enticed Teen, Raped Her

A Hamden man was arrested early Saturday morning after he raped, strangled and threatened to kill a 15-year-old girl he met on an Internet social networking site, according to police.

At about 1 a.m. police got a report of a sexual assault in the area of Mountain Road, according to Hamden Police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith. 

"Local residents alerted police that a young female was “banging” on their door, screaming for help," he said in a release Saturday.

When police got there, they found the girl, who told them that she was sexually assaulted in a car by a "friend" she had met on the Internet, identified as Edwin Arpi, 21, of 119 Corbin Road, Hamden.

"During the course of the assault, officers learned that Arpi strangled her and threatened to kill her," Smith said. "She attempted to contact police from inside of the vehicle; however, Arpi grabbed the cell phone from her. The victim eventually was able to escape from the vehicle in search of help."

A short time later police found Arpi sleeping in his car, Smith said.

Arpi was charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a minor, third-degree strangulation and Interfering with an emergency call.

Arpi who was held in lieu of $250,000 bond and is due to appear in Meriden Superior Court.

Detective Brian Stewart is conducting the investigation, Smith said.