UPDATE:
On Thursday, May 18 James Montgomery pleaded not guilty to charge of sexually assaulting three women. He remains in the King County Jail on $500,000 bail. Montgomery's next court date is scheduled for June 20.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A 33-year-old Bellevue man has been arrested in connection with attacks on three women in Seattle, according to Seattle police.
Police identified James Montgomery as a suspect after following up on a lead about a Chevrolet Cruz, which was spotted fleeing the scene of one attack last month.
Detectives discovered the vehicle had recently been sold at a dealership and filed a warrant to identify the owner who, detectives discovered, strongly resembled the suspect in the three cases, according to investigators.
Seattle police detectives, with the help of Bellevue police, arrested Montgomery Tuesday night as he was driving his red Chevy Cruz in Bellevue.
When police took him into custody, he was wearing a black bomber jacket similar to one described by victims, witnesses, and seen in surveillance video.
Montgomery was booked into the King County Jail on suspicion of three counts of indecent liberties. A judge set his bail at $500,000 on Wednesday afternoon and agreed with prosecutors who said Montgomery was a threat to public safety.
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The public defender said Montgomery was honorably discharged from the military because he suffers from PTSD. She said he still receives treatment.
Investigators said in each of the attacks the women were able to fight him off with the help of other people nearby the incident.
Police report the assaults happened at the following locations:
- March 7, Elliott Avenue in Belltown
- April 17, East Terrace Street in the Central District
- April 19, 20th Avenue and Ravenna Boulevard near Ravenna Park
Here’s a breakdown of those events.
Belltown incident
Police said as she approached her apartment, the suspect grabbed her from behind and the woman screamed. A resident opened their unit door and the suspect fled.
The victim described the suspect as a white man, 6 feet tall, 25 to 30 years old, with blond hair, green eyes, wearing a black jacket and gray jeans.
Central District incident
On April 17, another woman was walking home when a man grabbed her and threw her to the ground in the 1000 block of East Terrace Street.
Police said the woman fought by scratching him, grabbing his throat and jabbing his eyes.
Two women then drove up to the victim to ask if she was OK. She got into their vehicle to call 911 and the suspect fled.
Ravenna area incident
A victim was walking near 20th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Ravenna Boulevard on April 19 when a man approached her from behind, grabbed her, threw her to the ground and climbed on top of her.
As the victim fought the suspect, a witness drove by and began honking her car horn, drawing the attention of other witnesses. The suspect quickly fled.
Detectives continue to investigate whether the man may be responsible for any other attacks in Seattle or the Puget Sound region, and are asking anyone with additional information to call (206) 684-5575.
Cox Media Group
