PASADENA, Texas – A person of interest was questioned Thursday in connection with a string of rape investigations between Pasadena and Missouri City, police said.
The car the man was believed to be driving was also seized as part of the investigation, police said.
Police have not yet released the man's identity.
The person of interest was identified and authorities set up surveillance at a house in Southwest Houston after receiving a Crime Stoppers tip.
Neighbors were caught off guard when they heard the news.
"I've walked the dog all the time and never suspected anything," Robert Coffman said. "It puts everybody on edge. At least he didn't do it in our neighborhood, but that still doesn't mean you want him in your neighborhood."
The rape victim told investigators she left the Fitness Connection gym in the area of Fondren Road and Bissonnet Street in southwest Houston around 11:45 p.m. April 1 and was confronted by a man as she pulled up to her Missouri City home.
"As she was parking her vehicle in the driveway, she was confronted by an armed suspect who forced his way into her vehicle, made her drive around the corner to a street where he sexually assaulted her," said Paul Poulton, Missouri City Police Department lieutenant.
She told investigators the man covered his face with a mask and hoodie, but she did learn something about his possible identity when he spoke.
"Our victim believed he was either Hispanic or Middle Eastern but she wasn't sure which, she did say he had a distinct accent," Poulton said.
+++UPDATE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE+++ 5/16/19 Detectives with the Pasadena Police Department received a Crime Stoppers...
Posted by Pasadena Police Department on Thursday, May 16, 2019
VIDEO: SKY2 flies scene of where a car was seized as part of a rape investigation