PARKESBURG, PA — A 23-year-old man accused in a sexual assault investigation was arrested Wednesday morning in Wilmington, Delaware, after Parkesburg police and multiple law enforcement agencies spent several days attempting to locate him, according to authorities.
Richard Javier Vasquez-Lopez was charged with rape, indecent sexual assault, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and related offenses stemming from an investigation that began in mid-April, according to the Parkesburg Borough Police Department.
Police said investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Vasquez-Lopez on April 29.
According to authorities, officers from Parkesburg Borough Police worked alongside county, state, and federal law enforcement partners over several days while attempting to locate the defendant.
Shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday, surveillance officers located Vasquez-Lopez in a parking lot in Wilmington, investigators said. Authorities reported he was taken into custody without incident.
Police said members of the Chester County Detectives Drug and Organized Crime Unit and several federal law enforcement officers assisted in the arrest.
According to court information released by police, Vasquez-Lopez was arraigned Wednesday before Judge Leiberman, who set bail at $1,000,000 cash.
Authorities said the defendant was transported to Chester County Prison, where he is being held pending a preliminary hearing at District Court 15-3-07.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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