NEWS
Following assaults, police arrest suspect
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Also by Aubre Andrus:
- UW prepares for Halloween (October 20, 2005)
- City prepares for Halloween (October 20, 2005)
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- Police arrest suspect after sexual assault (March 6, 2006)
by Aubre Andrus
Monday, January 17, 2005
A man the Madison Police Department arrested on New Year’s Day and tentatively charged for sexually assaulting a woman on Bassett Street has now been accused of attacking four other women in the University of Wisconsin campus area.
Armando Montes-Ocotl, 18, allegedly grabbed a 20-year-old Madison female from behind early in the morning on Jan. 1. Montes-Ocotl began sexually assaulting the woman as she walked down Bassett Street, according to a police report. The victim screamed and was able to break away.
A witness reportedly found Montes-Ocotl pulling up his pants nearby and was able to hold him until police arrived.
A preliminary hearing was originally to be held Jan. 13, but, according to court documents, Montes-Ocotl has been charged with assaulting four other women, including a second attack that occurred Jan. 1 and three others Dec. 4.
According to court documents, Montes-Ocotl now faces four counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault. Second-degree sexual assault is punishable by up to 40 years in prison.
Josue Perez Gutierrez, 27, is also suspected in a series of sexual assaults over the weekend of Dec. 3. In each case of sexual assault, the victims were reportedly attacked and grabbed in a sexual way. All victims escaped or were helped by bystanders.
Another sexual assault was reported on East Mifflin Street Jan. 1. A 20-year-old woman was attacked by a man who attempted to kidnap and rob her, according to police. The suspect, a Hispanic male with short hair wearing a red or orange collared shirt and cargo pants, has not been found.
Lt. Carl Gloede of the Madison Police Department said there are many ways to avoid being attacked.
“At your residence, use common sense, take the appropriate security precautions and lock your doors and windows,” Gloede said. “When walking, especially at night, ideally have someone with you and be aware of your surroundings.”
According to Gloede, many assaults take place on quiet streets with no public traffic. Attackers look for places where no one is outside watching what could happen, he added. Gloede said a cell phone or a whistle is a good way to draw attention to a sexual assault that may be taking place.
Lt. Mary Lou Ricksecker of the Madison Police Department advised people to plan where to walk and avoid secluded areas. If a person has to call 9-1-1, the first thing she should say is her location, she added.
“If you are walking three blocks, think if there is an open business you can dip into if someone is following you and you feel uncomfortable,” Ricksecker said. “Think of what actions you will take if you do feel unsafe.”
Gloede said sexual assaults are priority cases and need to be reported. The Madison Police Department uses many resources to solve these cases, and any information will help to identify patterns of sexual assaults.
“The more information we have, the more likely [the case] is going to get solved and get the suspect off the street,” Gloede said.
Lindsay Martin, a UW sophomore, said all students on campus should take extra safety precautions when walking home at night.
“It’s horrible, and we think that it would never happen to us, but it happens all the time,” Martin said. “Just talking on your cell phone isn’t necessarily safe, or even being in your own home.”
