Indiana County, PA (WJAC) — Authorities with the Blairsville Borough Police Department say an Oil City man is behind bars after being accused of raping a woman he met on Tinder.
According to the affidavit, police were contacted in late February to investigate an alleged sexual assault that reportedly occurred at an apartment along Bentley Drive.
Police say the victim told officers that she had met a man, known as "Zech," on Tinder and reportedly invited him to her apartment via Snapchat.
Authorities say the victim told police that she had reportedly told "Zech" that she "did not want to have sex," but that after a few minutes of the two conversing, he allegedly pushed her onto the bed and began assaulting her.
Police say the victim claimed that "Zech" then left her apartment after raping her.
Upon further investigation, authorities were able to identify the man as 27-year-old Zechariah Lemke.
Police say Lemke's "digital footprint" reportedly showed him in the Blairsville area and at the victim's apartment at the time of the alleged assault.
Authorities also noted that Lemke was allegedly visiting the area to attend a home and business vendor show.
Police say when they finally made contact with Lemke, he initially claimed that he had never been to Blairsville or Indiana County, but later admitted to visiting the area but claimed he could not remember how long ago it was.
Investigators say Lemke failed to show up for an in-person interview with police and was unable to be located for several weeks.
According to online court records, Lemke was arraigned Thursday afternoon on charges of rape, sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault.
He is being held at the Indiana County Jail on $50,000 bail.
Editor's note: Indiana County does not provide mugshots to the media.
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