By MELANIE BRIDGE
The man suspected of raping a BYU student and attempting to sexually assault another student, was arrested, late Monday night, said Provo Police Captain Keith Teuscher.
Police said Luis Alonso Rivera, 39, later confessed to both incidents and was booked in the Utah County Jail. He was arraigned Tuesday morning and bail was set at $50,000 cash.
At 9:30 p.m. on Monday, University Police received a phone call from a student reporting a man who was acting suspiciously. They set up surveillance at the parking lot on 750 N. 400 East. Provo Police were also called in to assist. While under surveillance, the suspect approached two female BYU students and talked with them.
'He was talking to them and approaching them in a way that his intent was probably to do another sexual assault,' said Provo Police Captain Teuscher.
The second student ran from the suspect, but the first one stopped to talk with him. Rivera told her that his car was broken down and he was waiting for his brother. The student offered to go get her car and give him a ride to campus to find his brother.
'What is she thinking?,' Teuscher said, 'she's alone (and) he was planning another attack.'
After they walked away from the suspect, the students were questioned by University Police as to Rivera's reason for approaching them. Later Rivera was also questioned about his reason's for talking to the students.
'What he was telling the officers didn't match with what he said (to the students),' said University Police Lieutenant Greg Barber.
'(The composite) was very close to the likeness of the suspect and it turned out to be a big help to us,' Teuscher said.
'It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up -- it was uncanny,' said Provo Police Detective David Moore.
Based on the surveillance and Rivera's likeness to the composite, Provo Police obtained a search warrant on his home and on the vehicle that was nearby according to Teuscher. Because of the warrant, the police were able to gather evidence that tied him to the crime.
Rivera confessed to the rape incident that occurred at 300 E. 700 North on Nov. 30, 1997, and the sexual assault incident that occurred at 1155 E. and 560 North on Jan. 13, 1998. The victims were able to make a positive identifications of him in a line up Provo Police said.
Rivera moved to Provo in September of 1997. He lives in East Provo with his wife and children. Provo Police do not know where he lived prior to September or whether he has a criminal record.
'We're pleased with the BYU police department and their assisting us, they're the ones that tipped us off and their action of setting up surveillance really helped us out,' Teuscher said.
Because University Police set up surveillance instead of directly confronting the suspect, both departments were able to gather enough evidence to arrest the suspect instead of frightening him away.
Moore emphasized that it was only by University Police, Provo Police and citizens working together that the suspect was arrested. Without the phone tip from the student, University Police might never have known he was in the area and the suspect could have attacked another victim.
Preceding the arrest, Provo Police had been following numerous tips from people who believed they had seen the suspect, but none of them turned out. Flyers had been passed out with the composite of the suspect and information regarding the initial rape. Provo Police were also trying to go door to door on the south end of campus asking residents if they had any information on the suspect.
'We were trying to saturate the lower campus area in hopes that someone would identify the individual,' Moore said.
The south end of campus was particularly targeted because it was believed that the suspect was working in that area.
All law enforcement departments involved are very pleased to have apprehended their suspect but they urge BYU students not to be 'lulled into complacency', 'denial' or 'apathy'.
'We hope the ladies continue to follow (safety) guidelines and always practice safety, if they don't someone else will come along and they'll become a victim. There's others out there like him who are waiting for the opportunity,' Teuscher said.