TEMPE, Ariz. — EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above is from a previous broadcast.
The suspect arrested on Oct. 14 following a series of attacks in Tempe allegedly told police he initially set out with trying to "scare people." He has since been indicted on 12 separate felony charges, records show.
Djimon Boggs, 24, has been identified as a suspect who's connected to multiple burglaries after investigators recovered DNA evidence and reviewed surveillance footage.
Boggs is being charged with three counts of sexual assault, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of attempt to commit sexual assault, two counts of first degree burglary and one count of second degree burglary.
The Tempe Police Department said on Sept. 15 a man believed to be Boggs walked through an open garage door and approached a woman in the home while she was sleeping. She woke up and noticed he appeared to be holding a gun, resulting in her screaming out for her roommate.
The suspect was startled and ran out. Boggs allegedly later told police he gained entry to the victim's residence through an open garage door and wanted to "scare people" inside the home, court records show.
Then, on Oct. 6, at about 3:30 a.m., a resident reported waking up to a man standing over her and holding a sharp object to her throat. The stranger allegedly told her he would kill her if she tried to scream, court records show.
The suspect, believed to be Boggs, then sexually assaulted the victim and then threw her into a nearby bathroom. The victim sought help from a roommate while the suspect pulled off the bed sheets and fled, records show.
Boggs later told police he was allegedly under the influence of drugs and admitted that he may have sexually assaulted the victim. He further told investigators the assault was not premeditated and that he wanted to write an apology letter to the victim.
On Oct 12, a third incident happened just before 6 a.m. at a home in the same area as the other two.
Police said the suspect entered a home through an unlocked door and tried to assault a sleeping 72-year-old woman, but, as in the first incident, he was startled by a roommate and ran away.
During the incident, the suspect allegedly jumped onto the 72-year-old's bed and put her in a "choke hold." The victim said the suspect threatened to kill her and instructed her take off her underwear. She then screamed, causing the suspect to run out.
RELATED: Assault suspect gained entry to multiple Tempe residences through unlocked doors, police say
The neighborhood where these attacks took place is less than a mile east of ASU's Tempe campus and is home to many ASU students.
Investigators noted in court records that Boggs has presented to be "a high danger to the community," especially since all the crimes were committed against strangers and the suspect appeared to be looking for homes with unlocked doors.
Boggs was granted a $1 million bond shortly after his arrest.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office expressed disappointment with the court's decision to not hold Boggs nonbondable following his initial court appearance Sunday morning.
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell issued the following statement:
“While we asked that the suspect be held without any opportunity to post bail, we are hopeful that the $1 Million cash-only bond imposed by the Court will be sufficient to protect our community. Bond serves two purposes: It ensures that the community remains safe and assures the Court that the accused will appear at future court dates. We have been and will continue to seek appropriately high bonds for those who are accused of endangering the people of Maricopa County. We have seen the low bond experiment fail in cities throughout the United States. Its days end at Maricopa County.”
Police said the investigation into the attacks is ongoing.
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