PHOENIX — On Monday, police identified the suspect in a violent sexual assault that occurred last month in Phoenix.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, 24-year-old Luis Tapia has been arrested in connection with the August incident.
Tapia faces multiple charges including kidnapping, sexual assault and four counts of aggravated assault.
Details on Phoenix violent sexual assault
On Aug. 14, officers responded to the area of 46th and Oak streets, between McDowell and Thomas roads, around 4 a.m. after a caller reported hearing yelling from a nearby alley.
Police followed a blood trail and located an unconscious woman, who was partially unclothed and had serious injuries.
The woman, who is in her mid-30s, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
On Sept. 5, Phoenix police held a press conference to discuss the attack and ask for anyone with information pertaining to the case to come forward.
At the time, police said the woman had been released from the hospital but was still recovering from her injuries.
“I can just say that in my time on the department and investigating these types of crimes, it was very … severe — there were severe injuries,” Lt. Casey Tornberg of the Phoenix Police Adult Sex Crimes Unit said during the press conference. “And … why we’re here today is due to those injuries, with the sexual assault.”
How did police identify Tapia as a suspect?
After the press conference, detectives continued to canvass the area where the assault occurred, trying to locate witnesses as well as distributing flyers.
Within a few days, detectives received information from witnesses that pointed towards Tapia as the possible suspect. Detectives were then able to speak to multiple people who put Tapia where the sexual assault occurred.
On Saturday, police arrested Tapia in south Phoenix. According to Phoenix police, Tapia admitted to sexually and physically assaulting the woman.
We want to hear from you.
Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.
