Suspect Arrested In Minneapolis Parking Ramp Assaults

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The man accused in two assaults at a downtown Minneapolis parking ramp has been arrested, according to police.

At a press conference Thursday, officials announced they had a suspect in custody. They said the 22-year-old suspect was spotted wearing the same clothes and standing just two blocks away from where Tuesday's attacks occurred.

He was not carrying a weapon, police said. His identity was not immediately released. Victims and witnesses are going to be shown the suspect's photo in police lineups first.

The separate attacks happened Tuesday afternoon on the seventh floor of Ramp C, on the corner of 4th Street and 2nd Avenue North.

Police say the fact the attacks happened in broad daylight caused heightened public concern, which led to additional security at downtown parking ramps in an effort to find the suspect as soon as possible.

Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, the first female victim was approached at her vehicle on the seventh floor. A younger man asked her for money. When she refused, he grabbed her hand and pulled her between two parked cars. The woman was able to fend off the attack and was assisted when another man emerged from the ramp's elevator.

That's when the young attacker got scared and walked away, yelling, "Quit trying to take all my money!"

The attacker struck again two-and-a-half-hours later. This time he forced himself in a vehicle with the victim, where he assaulted her. As he fled the scene, two Good Samaritans ran after him. But unfortunately they lost the suspect behind Pizza Lucé.

Minneapolis Police said that while parking ramps are higher risk places for assaults, what happened Tuesday is still rare.