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SPPD make arrest in sexual assault, burglary [RAW]
St. Paul police made an arrest after a woman was robbed and sexually assaulted after a man broke into her home in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - St. Paul police have made an arrest after a woman was sexually assaulted and robbed after a man broke into her home in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood on April 15.
A man was arrested Thursday in relation to the case on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct, first-degree burglary and kidnapping, police said in a press conference.
Authorities say search warrants were executed Thursday morning in Stillwater and Maplewood and the suspect was taken into custody, ten days after the assault and burglary occurred.
St. Paul Police Chief, Axel Henry, said over 730 people from the department worked on the case.
"I want to start off by thanking the officers from all over the city who responded in the early morning hours when this occurred. I want to thank all of the investigators, and the leadership in our department, who continued tirelessly to investigate this and never gave up on this case and continued to work it," Henry said during the press conference.
Law enforcement said the incident was random, and the suspect was not known to the victim.
According to police, right before 4:30 a.m. on April 15, officers responded to a home on the 300 block of Snelling Avenue South on a report of a sexual assault.
At the scene, officers spoke to the woman who said she was sleeping when she heard someone pounding on the side door of her home, authorities said. A man then forced himself into the home and robbed the victim of money. The suspect then pulled out a weapon and sexually assaulted the victim.
The suspect then fled the home, and the victim called 911, according to law enforcement. The victim was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.
Police say charges against the suspect are expected soon.