SANTA ROSA (BCN) -- The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office arrested a Sebastopol man Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of sexually assaulting his female neighbor Monday.
The woman was attacked near her residence in the area of state Highway 116 South and Cooper Road in Sebastopol around 2:30 p.m., Sgt. Cecile Focha said.
The woman fought off her assailant and screamed. Neighbors who heard her cries came to her aid but the suspect, dressed in black clothing, threatened them with a knife, Focha said. He then ran from the scene.
Sheriff's deputies conducted an exhausted search with other law enforcement agencies for several hours.
The victim, who was admitted to a hospital and later released, identified the suspect as her neighbor, 27-year-old Odalis Solano Rosario. Her description of him matched that provided by her neighbors, Focha said.
Rosario was frequently seen in the Hessel area outside Sebastopol and was likely still in possession of the knife, Focha said.
Deputies and detectives kept Rosario's house under surveillance throughout the night.
Rosario was seen sneaking back to his house around 12:30 p.m. today, Focha said. He was wearing the same clothes as he wore Monday, Focha said.
Deputies and detectives were still in the area and quickly arrived at Rosario's home, Focha said. He was found hiding under his house and refused to surrender until a police dog was released and removed Rosario, still in possession of a knife, from under the house, Focha said.
He was treated for a dog bite and arrested for using a weapon in conjunction with violent sex crimes including attempted rape, kidnapping, sexual battery, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest. He was booked into the Sonoma County jail and is being held without bail, Focha said.
Rosario is 5 feet 9 inches, 190 pounds. He matches the general description of a man who sexually assaulted a woman in her office at the auditorium of the Santa Rosa Junior College on Nov. 10. The 59-year-old assault victim also fought off her attacker.
Santa Rosa Junior College police said that suspect is a short, stocky, Latino man, 25-30 years old with short brown spiky hair.
Santa Rosa Police Department Sgt. Lisa Banayat said Tuesday afternoon that similarities between the two assaults are being investigated. Santa Rosa police are now investigating the assault at the junior college.
"Evidence from both crimes, as well as from the suspect in that (Sebastopol) case will be compared and analyzed. We are unable to confirm if the two cases are related. All other leads are being pursued," Banayat said.
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