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Arlington Man Arrested, Charged in Ballston Sexual Assault

Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos (photo courtesy ACPD)A day after releasing a composite sketch in the hopes of catching a sexual assault suspect, Arlington County Police today said they got their man.

Anibal Castellanos, a 36-year-old Arlington resident, has been arrested and charged with burglary and attempted rape in connection to the June 19 attack.

From an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit has made an arrest in the case of a sexual assault which occurred at a residence in the 3900 block of 4th Street N. in the early morning hours of June 19, 2016. Mr. Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos, 36, of Arlington, Va. is charged with Nighttime Burglary while armed and Attempt Rape. Mr. Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos is currently being held with no bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on June 19th, an unknown male subject unlawfully entered a female victim’s apartment and sexually assaulted her while using the threat of a knife to hold her against her will. During the attack, the victim was able to escape and lock herself in a bathroom where she called for help. The male suspect fled the residence on foot and was observed by a neighbor leaving the scene.

Following interviews with the victim and witnesses, a composite sketch of the suspect was developed. A combination of evidence collected during the investigation and the accounts of several people from the neighborhood led to the identification of Mr. Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos. Members of the Tactical Unit, First District Policing Team and Detectives of the Special Victims Unit apprehended Mr. Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos at his home in Arlington, Va.

Special Victim’s Unit detectives continue to collect evidence and ask anyone who knows this individual or details surrounding the June 19th incident, to please contact Detective P. Pena at 703.228.4183 or [email protected]. To report information anonymously, please contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).