ST PAUL, Minn. — St. Paul Police acknowledged the ongoing search for a man who broke into a woman's home Monday morning, and raped and robbed her.
At their monthly community meeting Tuesday night, the case was the first thing they addressed, calling it a priority and emphasizing how rare this type of case is.
"It’s also important for all of you to feel safe in your homes and secure in your neighborhoods," said St. Paul Police Sgt. Mike Ernster.
He says the attack in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood happened around 4:30 a.m. Monday. The victim was asleep when police say the armed suspect pounded on her door, broke into the house and sexually assaulted her.
Neighbors describe feeling unsettled and police say they immediately set-up a perimeter and used thermal drones and K9s, along with its forensics unit to try and process any DNA. But as of Tuesday night, they haven't made any arrests.
"There's only a couple other times that we do this and those times are homicides, so that gives you the level of priority that we put on this case," said Sgt. Ernster.
Sgt. Ernster says there have been 55 other criminal sexual conduct incidents this year within the city — but none like this. Data from the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) shows sexual assaults by strangers are rare. In fact, eight of out of 10 rapes are committed by someone the victim knows.
"We have not had anything like this in our city," said Sgt. Ernster. "There's no trend, there's no pattern, but it is disturbing and we have to hold him accountable."
The man was described as African-American, 25 to 35 years old, between 5'10" and 5'11". Officials said he was wearing a black t-shirt, black pants with a zipper on the right leg and black boots with heavy soles. He has a dark complexion and a vertical scar from his sternum to his belt line, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at (651) 266-5685.
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