August 13, 2007

Since 1997 police have been searching for the Charlottesville serial rapist. Monday police announced the arrest of a man who may be a suspect in these attacks.

Police from Charlottesville, Albemarle, UVa, and all local commonwealth's attorneys held a press conference at 4 p.m. Monday to announce the arrest of a suspect.

The man arrested is 40-year-old Nathan Antonio Washington of Old Brook Road in Charlottesville. He has been charged with two sexual assaults. Washington has been charged in a 2004 attempted rape on Webland Drive and in a 2002 vicious rape on Harris St. in Charlottesville.

Both of these assaults had previously been connected to the Charlottesville serial rapist through DNA. But police at this time are not saying they have arrested the serial rapist or linking this suspect to any other attacks.

Police say that Washington has no prior convictions. He is currently an employee at the Harris Teeter in the Barracks Road Shopping Center and as an independant contractor delivering a local newspaper. He is married with four kids. Police say that they will continue to investigate any connection between Washington and other rape cases.

Washington is being held at the regional jail. He currently has a court hearing scheduled for Thursday at 9am.