Elizabeth Man Arrested for Series of Sexual Assaults

Earlier this week law enforcement agents arrested an Elizabeth man and charged with him a series of harrowing sexual assaults that occurred over a six-week period.

Invesigators say Rasheed Powell, 36,  targeted couples checking into motels in Linden and Elizabeth on weekend nights. He would reportedly force his way into their room at gunpoint, where he ordered the couple to engage in sexual acts before making the male stand in the bathroom while sexually assaulted the female victim.

According to Union County First Assistant Prosecutor Albert Cernadas, Jr., the assaults took place at the Swan Motel in Linden, the Benedict Motel in Linden, the Spring Lane Motel in Elizabeth and the Royal Motel in Elizabeth.

Investigators know of at least six incidents that occurred in the span of six weeks, including two attacks last weekend. Powell was identified through the use of forensic science and other evidence collected by investigators, said Cernadas.

"Powell is clearly a sexual predator who acted quickly and viciously," Cernadas said in a press statement. "The efficient cooperation of several law enforcement agencies was able to connect the dots between the crimes and efficiently worked towards identifying the suspect and coordinating his arrest."

At the time of at least two of the assaults Powell was driving a white Acura MDX with Pennsylvania license plates registered to an address in Easton, said Cernadas.

Powell was arrested on April 16 at the Springfield Municipal Court where he was responding to a traffic summons. Springfield and Elizabeth police made the arrest under the direction of the Prosecutor's Sex Crimes Unit.

On Thursday, April 19, Cernadas announced that Powell was charged with 10 counts of 1st degree aggravated sexual assault, 2 counts of 1st degree attempted aggravated sexual assault, 12 counts of 1st degree robbery and 6 counts of  2nd degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.Powell is currently in custody on $3 million bail.