Red light camera helps catch rapist

SURFSIDE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A red light camera surveillance video revealed a crucial clue that helped lead police to a suspected rapist.

Police have released the surveillance footage from a red light camera where a woman is seen walking down Harding Avenue, near 88th Street in July. Police said, behind her is Shawn Andrews. "When you see her in the video, with him following her, she has no idea he was there," said Surfside Police Detective Patrick McKenna.

Andrews is seen getting closer and closer to the woman until, eventually, he pulled her into an alleyway and raped her. "If you watch and you see him, the subject in particular, you see him walking closer and closer to the victim. He almost looks like a lion about to pounce on his prey," said McKenna. "He's excited. He's wiping his face. He's obviously very pumped up about the situation ... It's quite frightening."

The incident happened in the normally peaceful area of Surfside.

Police immediately handed out flyers with the sketch of the suspect. The sketch was so detailed, police received tips that led them to arrest Andrews in Fort Lauderdale. "It is very important because the victim came in with an allegation, and it places the victim at the location," said Surfside Police Detective Marian Valino.

"The red light camera basically helped out because it put the victim and the subject at the location that she described when she gave her account of what happened," said McKenna.

Andrews is now awaiting trial.

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