People In Brookings On Alert After Attacks

BROOKINGS, SD - A third woman has been attacked in Brookings in three weeks and police believe the same man is responsible.

This time, the 24-year old victim was kidnapped, raped and robbed at knifepoint. The fact that the attacks have escalated has put everyone throughout town on alert.

The latest attack happened just after midnight. Unlike the previous two crimes, this one did not happen on the South Dakota State University but investigators believe the same attacker is behind the string of crimes.

Brookings is not known for crime sprees. But the latest series has investigators on high alert and they want people in the town to take note of the recent violent crimes.

"Unfortunately, we're having to put out a precaution to people, females in particular, not to travel at night alone," Brookings Police Chief Jeff Miller said.

The suspect's description is similar in all three cases. A thin to medium build black man, 5'8" to 6' tall. Unfortunately for investigators, that broad of a description doesn't lead them to a suspect because many students fit that description.

"Certainly, we don't mean to single them out, so it's really difficult to place them or say they're in that category of suspects. Unfortunately, that's the case. It's going to be in that age level and that description," Miller said.

The Brookings Police Department won't say what its next move is because officials don't want the attacker to get the upper hand. Now, investigators are hoping to get the tip that will help them solve this case.

"Obviously, we want to catch this guy. We want to catch him before anyone else gets hurt. We want to catch him before this escalates any further," Miller said.

The victim in the recent case is not an SDSU student. If you have any information for police, you're asked to call Brookings CrimeStoppers at 692-STOP.