The man accused of raping a woman after pulling her off a Rockville, Maryland, sidewalk Tuesday night was arrested Wednesday evening on a warrant from an assault that took place last week, police said.
Dustin Thomas Rogers, 25, is charged with first-degree rape and assault
The victim was walking to a friend's home from the Shady Grove Metro station when she was attacked just before midnight. She told police she was walking behind her attacker on West Gude Drive near Route 355, then passed him, which is when he grabbed her. She tried to fight him, but he put her in a choke hold, punched her several times and dragged her into a wooded area where he sexually assaulted her, police said.
The woman told her attacker she had AIDS, so he reached for a condom, which gave her the opportunity to get away, police said. She ran to a nearby office building at 15 West Gude Drive, where she told a security guard about the attack. Officers responded shortly after 12:10 a.m.
"This woman just getting off public transportation, probably coming back from work or school, wanting to get to her destination, was attacked without provocation right in this area," said Montgomery County police spokesman Paul Starks.
The woman was taken to the hospital, where she is being treated.
Minutes before the attack, Rogers was at a 7-Eleven, police said. Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the store.
Rogers was accused assaulting his ex-girlfriend last Friday and pulling a knife on her brother and cousin later that day. Police had a warrant for his arrest and went to his home on Gaither Road in the King Farm development but didn't find him at that time.
Officers returned to his home Wednesday evening and arrested him as he was leaving, police said.
“They arrested him on the strength of that warrant and then took him into custody where he was questioned for this rape,” Starks said.
Rogers' bond review was continued until Friday because he wants to hire his own attorney. He is being held without bond.
