Renton Police arrest suspect in multiple rapes

RENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA RELEASE
June 19, 2008
Contact: Penny Bartley
Rape Suspect Arrested Office: (425) 430-7565 Cell: (206) 930-8823

The Renton Police Department has arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for three rapes in the Renton area in the past seven months. The suspect was arrested as a result of evidence collected from an attempted rape that took place just over two weeks ago. The suspect was arrested at his home without incident on Wednesday, June 18th, and the suspect is currently being held at Renton Municipal Jail.

In all of the cases, the female victims were approached by the suspect when they were alone. The suspect was conversational and friendly. In one case the suspect asked for bus directions and in another case asked for a ride. In all of the cases the suspect either showed or implied that he had a weapon. In some cases the suspect used the victims to get money in order to obtain drugs after assaulting them.

All of the rapes have occurred in the area of SW Sunset Boulevard (which is known as Martin Luther King Way beyond the Renton city limits) and Rainier Avenue South. The suspect lived at a nearby apartment complex and the suspect is registered as a Level III sex offender. Renton Police had previously done a community notification meeting and circulated bulletins regarding the suspect.

Police are concerned that there may be additional victims either in Renton, or in the Rainier Valley area where the suspect previously lived. The suspect is described as a light skinned black male, thin build, 5’ 07” with a scruffy, unshaved face. In all of the cases the suspect was wearing some type of covering on his head, either a cap, a sweatshirt hood, or “doo rag” type cloth.

Anyone with information regarding any of the sexual assaults is asked to contact Renton Police at (425) 430-7500.

###