SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A 44-year-old man was behind bars Wednesday in connection with the beating and sexual assault of a 54-year-old Midway District hotel employee, and a police lieutenant said DNA evidence linked him to another attack.
Christopher Stevens was arrested without incident Monday at his Mission Valley hotel room on suspicion of rape by force, attempted murder and false imprisonment in connection with the attack that happened Friday at the Wyndham Garden Hotel, 3737 Sports Arena Boulevard, according to San Diego police Lt. Anastasia Smith and jail records.
The 54-year-old victim was leaving a vacant room she had just cleaned sometime between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. when the suspect allegedly confronted her and forced her back inside, Smith said.
The woman fought her attacker, but was beaten and sexually assaulted, the lieutenant said.
The suspect ran from the scene following the attack, at which point the victim was able to call police, authorities said. She was taken to a hospital for treatment, Smith said.
SDPD Crime Laboratory personnel on Monday positively identified Stevens as the suspect from evidence collected at the crime scene, Smith said.
The DNA evidence was also linked to evidence collected from a reported sexual assault at Hourglass Field Community Park on Oct. 9, Smith said.
Sex crimes detectives, with the assistance of patrol officers, arrested Stevens within hours of the identification, Smith said. He was being held without bail in the San Diego Central Jail and was scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to jail records.
Smith asked anyone with information regarding the case to contact the Sex Crimes Unit at (619) 531-2200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.