A suspect is in custody after a string of sexual assaults struck the downtown and campus area Sunday night.

University of Wisconsin police spokesperson Ruth Ewing said Robert Rickaby, a 22-year-old Portage man, allegedly sexually assaulted nine women in the downtown and campus area throughout the night.

Ewing said it is possible Rickaby assaulted other women, and urged any other potential victims to call Madison Crime Stoppers.

Two incidents occurred on the UW campus, while the remainder happened near State Street. Ewing said most victims were UW students.

Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said the crimes ranged in violence; one woman was choked, another was knocked to the ground while several others were groped.

DeSpain added UW police booked Rickaby after MPD made the arrest. According to a UW press release, a Breese Terrace resident called police after matching the man with the suspect’s description Monday morning.

UWPD sent a WiscAlert text message informing the campus community of the string of assaults at 8:27 a.m. Monday morning, Ewing said. By 10:14 a.m., MPD had arrested Rickaby.

Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, who represents the UW campus area where many of the assaults happened, said he felt confident in the safety of the downtown area and the communication of public safety information despite the assaults.

“This shows coordination between UW Police and Madison police to apprehend a suspect,” Eagon said. “I definitely encourage everyone to sign up for WiscAlerts and pay attention to them.”

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, who represents the rest of the downtown area, said MPD had told him mental illness could have been a cause of Rickaby’s alleged string of assaults.

In addition to Sunday night’s assaults, Verveer also said a home invasion on Doty Street left one resident in the hospital after being pistol-whipped.