A 43-year-old man was charged Friday with sexually assaulting a woman after he allegedly followed her after she got off a Minneapolis bus last weekend.

Kenneth Franklin Owens, of Minneapolis, was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct after a 33-year-old woman said he dragged her to a fenced area near a daycare on 34th Street and Chicago Avenue S. on Dec. 8 and raped her.

According to the criminal complaint, the woman had been walking downtown to catch a bus when Owens had pushed her and stolen her cell phone before walking off. After the woman boarded the bus, Owens got on two stops later.

When she exited the bus and started walking, Owens grabbed her and forcibly removed her coat, according to charges. Then he pushed her though a gate and proceeded to force himself on her. Owens had allegedly slapped her hard throughout the attack.

Police were dispatched to the scene about 3 a.m. and noted that the woman was screaming and sobbing as she described the attack.

Police publicized surveillance photos from the bus this week to help identify the suspect. After a tip, Owens was arrested at his girlfriend's home.

A coat, which the woman identified as hers, was turned over to police by Owens' family after they said he gave it to a nephew.

Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495; Twitter: @stribnorfleet