Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Midvale Police say they have a dangerous sexual predator off the streets. This morning, officers arrested a man they believe assaulted a 17-year-old girl Friday night, and now they believe he may have had many more victims.
Police here are thanking the public for this arrest. They had many tips flood in after news reports Friday night.
Earlier today police released a composite sketch of the suspect. He is described as Hispanic or Pacific Islander - 5' 9" tall and 250 pounds.
The suspect is under arrest, but his name has not been released yet because official charges haven't been filed, but he looks almost identical to this composite sketch.
A license plate number called in lead detectives to a home in West Jordan, and to the suspect. The 17-year-old girl was home alone Friday morning when the suspect knocked on the door offering to trim the trees in the front yard. The victim opened the door and told him her parents weren't home, and that's when he pushed his way inside and started kissing her. She was able to push him away and out the door, but the experience really shook her up.
"We were able to get her calmed down a little bit and bring her down here to do the composite. After she did the composite drawing and it was finished, she looked at it and said 'yeah, that's pretty much him,' and broke down and started crying," says officer Robert Miner.
Today her father is grateful to their alert neighbors, and the quick action by the police department.
Midvale police say they have already talked to a person in Sandy who called in to say his wife may have been another victim. The man offered to do landscaping, but he wasn't as forward in that case. He kissed her hand and cheek.
