ROCHESTER - A 17-year-old man is in custody and police believe he may be responsible for a recent series of sexual assaults in Rochester's Kutzky Park neighborhood.
The teen was arrested on a probation violation at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Rochester Police Capt. Brian Winters said the 17-year-old is not in custody for the sexual assault reported last Wednesday in the 1200 block of West Center Street, but police are confident the man is the suspect.
Investigators believe the suspect may also be behind three other recent assaults that were committed by a suspect who approached a victim or was an intruder in the victim's home. Those incidents happened in early May in a general area near Saint Marys Hospital on 2nd Street SW, Highway 52 on the west, Kutzky Park on the north and 6th Avenue on the east.
"These crimes were committed by one individual and we are relatively confident that that individual is in custody on an apprehension order, and we are confident that a link can be drawn between this suspect in custody and the most recent sexual assault in the Kutzky Park neighborhood," Winters told KTTC television.
Police can hold the 17-year-old for 72 hours on a probation violation. During that time, Winters says investigators will put a case together that may link the man to all four incidents in the Kutzky Park neighborhood.
On Tuesday night, more than 50 people showed up to a Kutzky Park Neighborhood meeting to learn more about how they can keep their homes safe. RPD crime prevention specialist Darrel Hildebrant said he is available by appointment to walk through your home and offer security tips. Appointments can be made at: (507) 328-6890.
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