SEDWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a series of alleged sexual assaults have made an arrest.
Just after 11:30a.m. on Thursday, police responded to a sexual assault report at the Towne East Mall. A female victim told police a male suspect later identified as 26-year-old Andrew Jones sexually assaulted her outside a store inside the mall, according to Officer Trevor Macy. The suspect then running away.
Shortly after this incident occurred, officers learned of another incident within the Towne East Mall. A female victim reported being sexually assaulted by a man with a similar description to the suspect in the first incident.
The suspect later identified as Jones was seen leaving the mall and heading toward the southeast.
Officers were attempting to locate the suspect when a third 911 call was made regarding another sexual assault in the 8000 block of E Morris in Wichita. A woman reported a man, matching the suspect's description in the previous assaults, sexually assaulted her outside her home. Her husband heard the commotion and saw the suspect fleeing. The husband began to chase him but stopped chasing after the suspect produced a knife and threatened him with it.
Officers were in the area when they located Jones who attempted to flee. There was a brief foot pursuit, which ended when Jones claimed to have a firearm and entered a residence in the 8000 block of E Gilbert. The house was surrounded, and crisis negotiators were called in to de-escalate the situation.