By MAURA GRUNLUND

and EDDIE D'ANNA



STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police have a person of interest in custody in connection with a frightening spree of sexual attacks against four women on Staten Island, according to an NYPD spokesman.

The man is currently being questioned at the 120th Precinct stationhouse in St. George.

No charges have been filed at this time and his identity has not been released.

Cops received numerous tips after they released images of a man sought for questioning in connection with the brutal attacks that occurred early in the Tuesday morning rush hour in Tompkinsville, Randall Manor and Brighton Heights.

At one point they questioned a man who was brought to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, but that man was ultimately cleared.

The current person of interest was taken into custody after officers received a tip.

A law enforcement source suggested Staten Islanders could "rest easy," knowing detectives are on the case and making progress.

However, police weren't taking any chances as they continued their investigation.

There was a noticeable police presence in the affected communities Wednesday morning, especially near Morris Intermediate School (I.S. 61.)

And the NYPD continued to seek tips in the spree on social media Wednesday morning as detectives continue their investigation.

The victims, ages 14 to 64, were going about their normal morning routines of waiting for buses and walking a dog when they were ambushed by the predator, police said. All of the victims fought off their attackers.

The assaults began when an unidentified individual approached a 50-year-old woman walking her dog on the 100 block of St. Paul's Avenue in Tompkinsville at around 5:42 a.m., police said. He grabbed her by the neck, dragged her to the ground, and placed his hands inside her pants touching her groin area. The victim screamed and the individual fled on foot towards Hannah Street, police said.

At around 6:20 a.m., police say the same individual approached a 64-year-old woman as she stepped off an MTA bus in Randall Manor near the intersection of Henderson and Westbury Avenues, and slapped her in the face before running away, police said.

The man's third victim, a 42-year-old female, was standing at a bus stop near the intersection of Castleton Avenue and Hunter Place in Randall Manor at around 6:28 a.m. when he approached her from behind and wrestled her to the ground, police said.

He put his hands down her pants, and touched her buttocks before a passerby yelled out, police said. The attacker then punched the third victim in the face, and fled the scene, police said.

Finally, the man approached a 14-year-old girl who was waiting at a bus stop near the intersection of Castleton and Havenwood Road in Brighton Heights at around 6:45 p.m. He forced the girl to the ground, and attempted to make her perform a criminal sex act, police said.