An Anoka County man has been arrested in a series of sexual assaults of young women, mostly in the Marcy-Holmes and Dinkytown neighborhoods, dating from 2013 to last month.

At a news conference Sunday afternoon, the Minneapolis Police Department said officers arrested a suspect in Anoka County Friday morning. He was booked into Hennepin County jail later Friday, and is being held without bail on probable cause for burglary and criminal sexual conduct related to an incident that occurred in March.

They said they expect multiple criminal complaints to be filed against the man in coming weeks, but would not say how many.

Mayor Jacob Frey thanked the officers for the "extraordinary amount of work and perseverance" that led to the arrest, calling the city safer because of the department's work. After the most recent known attack on March 1, the MPD formed a task force with the University of Minnesota Police Department to analyze mounting evidence. A host of other agencies, including the FBI, was involved the effort.

"To survivors, we hope this brings some form of closure to everything that you've been through," Frey said. "This is a clear and salient reminder that while this pandemic is occurring we still have extraordinary first responders who are doing their job day in and day out."

Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo also thanked the victims for coming forward and said the detectives who worked the case kept them in mind at all times.

"I thank you for your courage and strength," the chief said.

Police have not yet confirmed the suspect's name, and they would not say how many cases he has been linked to except to say there were "multiple" and involved a range of types of sexual assault and attempted sexual assaults, not all rape.

Most of them involving victims in the Marcy-Holmes and Dinkytown areas, but some are outside that area in Minneapolis, and there are a few outside of Minneapolis.

Sources told the Star Tribune that the suspect is from Ham Lake.

In March, the Police Department released sketches of the assailant, describing him as a slender white man in a hoodie, and offered a reward for help identifying him. On Sunday they said they received a multitude of helpful tips and thanked the public for them. They followed up on every tip, but that did not lead to the arrest.

This is a developing story. Return to startribune.com for further coverage.

Jennifer Bjorhus • 612-673-4683