WASHINGTON — Montgomery County police say they have arrested a suspect in connection with a rape reported along the Northwest Branch Trail on Monday.
Police announced early Saturday morning that they have charged Joaquin Orellana Torres, 24, of Hughes Road in Hyattsville, Md., with one count of 1st degree rape and one count of armed robbery.
Police made no comment about whether Torres was connected with two other, similar attacks on women in the Washington area.
According to a release Saturday, police said they worked jointly with the Capitol Park Police over the last week and on Friday, they identified the suspect when they spotted a backpack on a man that matched a description given by the victim on the marked trail. As they got closer to the individual, they saw he matched the suspect sketch, and was wearing a beaded necklace also described by the victim.
The park officers detained the subject, and he was later transported to Montgomery County Police headquarters.
Torres was questioned by detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division, and during this time, according to police, admitted involvement in the assault.
“The arrest of Joaquin Orellana Torres helps to maintain the safe environment for everyone who uses the Montgomery County Park system,” stated Chief Antonio DeVaul of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division.
Police had first released a sketch two days ago of the suspect, who they say raped a woman at knifepoint Monday afternoon on the popular Montgomery County trail. It was the third notable attack in less than 48 hours.
Police said the woman punched her attacker in the face on the trail near Oakview Drive, but she was not able to escape her assailant.
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