That suspect attacked his victims from behind as they walked in Wicker Park, Lincoln Park and other North Side neighborhoods during late-night or early-morning hours last summer and fall, and police are urging women not to let their guard down after the recent arrest.
“Women on the North Side of Chicago should still be very aware of their surroundings, because this is not the guy who was out on the streets,” said Pat Camden, deputy director for police news affairs.
The suspect has been linked to eight sexual assaults and attempted assaults from Aug. 10 to Oct. 22 and possibly a Nov. 19 rape on the West Side. He typically slams his victims to the ground and beats them before sexually assaulting them. In some cases, he has been scared away by people passing by.
Police are continuing their investigation into the pattern of attacks, police spokesman Dave Bayless said.
Police have released several sketches of the suspect. He is described by victims as a man in his 20s, between 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-9, with short, dark hair, a Spanish accent, medium build and an olive complexion. Police say he was driving a dark Pontiac Grand Am from the late 1980s or early 1990s.
In December, police conducted a citywide search for the car, turning up more than 1,000 possible leads.