Police nab suspect in downtown ramp assaults

Minneapolis police have arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with two assaults in a Warehouse District parking ramp earlier this week.

The suspect was arrested about 9:20 a.m. Thursday after officers spotted the man around 4th Street and Nicollet Mall, said police Commander Bruce Folkens.

It came down to "good old fashioned boots-on-the-ground police work," Folkens said.

Authorities say the suspect was wearing the same clothing as the day of the assaults, one of which was sexual.

The suspect approached a woman at about 2 p.m. Tuesday and asked for a dollar. He then shoved her between two cars but fled when another person got off the elevator. At 4:40 p.m., a man believed to be the same person pushed a woman into her car and sexually assaulted her. He then fled, chased by witnesses who lost him in the area behind Pizza Lucé.

Authorities had video of him getting off an elevator with his victims. He was chased from parking Ramp C, 318 2nd Av. N., by bystanders after the second attack.

Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder said Wednesday night that police added extra patrols and undercover officers in the area.

ABM Security Manager Morrie Anderson said anyone who feels threatened or sees something suspicious should hit one of the red emergency buttons at various locations within the complex. There are 842 such intercoms, he said.

Pushing the button activates voice communication and a video feed to security. ABM also has escorts available. "We feel it is very secure out there," said Anderson.

The ABC ramp complex has 450 video cameras for 6,500 parking spaces, the elevators and the skyway connections, but there are areas within the complex that are not covered, Anderson acknowledged.

Staff writer Matt McKinney contributed to this report.

Libor Jany • 612-673-4064