A 28-year-old man suspected in a rash of home burglaries in and near southern Anoka County over the weekend and the sexual assault of a girl in one of the residences was arrested Wednesday morning in Minneapolis, authorities said.
Jarid Troy Alan Jovanovich of Minneapolis was apprehended around 10:30 a.m., said police spokesman John Elder.
A witness reported seeing someone who resembled Jovanovich near Main Street and 3rd Avenue SE., according to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.
Minneapolis and Metro Transit Police officers arrived, and Jovanovich fled toward the river, the Sheriff's Office said. The officers caught him in a rocky area under the 3rd Avenue Bridge.
Investigators used home surveillance video to determine that Jovanovich broke into four residences in Columbia Heights and one in St. Anthony between 1 and 6 a.m. Sunday and also attempted to enter other homes in the same areas, the Sheriff's Office said.
Jovanovich has so far been charged in the St. Anthony case with burglary and stalking. Charges have yet to be filed in the Columbia Heights cases.
At one home, the Sheriff's Office said, Jovanovich sexually touched a 9-year-old girl who was asleep at the time.
Jovanovich's criminal history in Minnesota dates back to at least 2009 and includes convictions for burglary, property damage, assault, trespassing and lurking.
Officers reviewing the surveillance video recognized Jovanovich from their contact with him in connection with his prior crimes, the Sheriff's Office said.
