The so-called “East Coast Rapist,” arrested in New Haven, tried to hang himself in his cell in the police lock-up Saturday. Before the night’s end, he was back in the lock-up after a trip to the hospital.
The man is suspected of 12 rapes in as many years, including a 2007 sexual assault in New Haven. The crimes — in Maryland, Virginia, Rhode Island and Connecticut — have been linked by DNA evidence to a single perpetrator.
The 39-year-old man, who lives on Englewood Drive in upper Westville, was arrested nearby on Cooper Place at around 2:15 p.m. on Friday, according to New Haven police spokesman Officer Joe Avery. The arrest was made by U.S. Marshals and the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Forces working alongside New Haven cops. The suspect is being held on $1 million bail.
The arrest was the result of DNA collected and matched, confirming that the man is the East Coast Rapist, Avery said. Police followed the suspect and picked up a discarded cigarette butt to get a DNA sample that proved crucial to the arrest.
A law enforcement agent familiar with the case said the suspect used his clothing to try to hang himself in the lock-up. Staff at the detention facility saw him trying, and stopped him.
When prisoners go into the cell, staffers routinely take away shoes and belts to try to prevent hanging attempts.
Still, “he tried to hang himself. He’s in Yale-New Haven Hospital right now for evaluation,” Officer Avery said Saturday evening. “He’s OK. I’m sure he’ll back in the lock-up some time.”
Sunday morning Avery confirmed that the suspect had been returned to the police lock-up by evening’s end after an examination at the hospital.
Police did not release a photo of the 39-year-old suspect. The hope is that more witnesses will come forward for information about other incidents. If a photo appears in the press, that makes it harder to get usable photo identification from witnesses.
The man was arrested on active warrants from New Haven and Prince William County, Va. New Haven Detective Kristine Cuddy obtained a warrant for the man for sexual assault, burglary, and risk of injury to a minor. Those charges stem from the 2007 sexual assault in New Haven.
The man is also charged as a fugitive from justice in the Prince William County case, and with two counts of rape, abduction, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held in lieu of a $1 million cash bond.
Avery singled out several officers for their exemplary work on the case: New Haven police Officers John Palmer and Steve Manware, Hamden police Officer Ray Quinn, Prince William County Detective Cameron Crouch, and US Marshals Osmund Tan, Marty Flynn and Mike Novak.
“This was truly a joint collaboration on all levels,” Avery wrote in a release. “We are proud of our investigation and hope the arrest of [the suspect] brings some closure to our victims and our communities.”
Court records indicate the man was arrested by Woodbridge police on Sept. 3 2010 and charged with 4th degree larceny. That case is still pending.
Friday’s arrest followed a recent billboard campaign, which placed police sketches of the suspect alongside highways in six states.
.44 Magnum Seized
Cops pulled a car over on East Ramsdell Street and came up with a gun, crack, and marijuana.
At 4:11 p.m. on Thursday, Officers Quintarus McArthur and Jose Escobar pulled over a car at 84 East Ramsdell St. off Whalley Avenue. They ended up arresting a passenger, a man who turned 25 on Friday. They also recovered a .44 caliber Magnum revolver, a quantity of crack cocaine, and a small amount of marijuana. The man, a convicted felon, is charged with weapon and drug violations.
In other police news, according to Avery:
Police responded to an alarm at the Orchard Variety Store at 96 Sylvan Ave. at 3:40 a.m. on Friday. They determined someone had broken in and stolen the cash register.
Crime Map
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NHPD
For block-by-block year-to-date crime information, plus daily crime maps, check out the Independent’s Crime Log.