Detectives used a decoy set up in a bed to catch a predator they say is responsible for a string of sexual assaults at a Manassas-area hotel, Prince William County, Va., police said Monday.

Brandon C. Murdock, 31, was charged with burglary and attempted aggravated sexual assault following the unusual police sting that was staged after three guests were inappropriately touched at the Wyndham Garden Hotel on Vandor Lane over the past year.

On Oct. 6, Murdock entered a room reserved by police and attempted to approach a bed where a decoy was in place, police said. Detectives immediately took Murdock into custody.

Police declined to discuss what the decoy was but said it was not a dummy or an undercover officer.

“We can’t discuss the operation more than what is mentioned in the release, but the decoy was not a real person,” said Sgt. Jonathan Perok, a police department spokesman.

Detectives said they were also able to link Murdock to a Sept. 15 sexual assault at the hotel. In that incident, a 63-year-old woman visiting from overseas was inappropriately touched while sleeping in her room, police said.

The woman screamed, and her attacker fled.

Police did not say whether Murdock was an employee of the hotel but said there were no signs of forced entry into the women’s rooms.

Police also said they believe that Murdock is linked to an Oct. 6, 2015, sexual assault. In that incident, a 15-year-old girl from South Korea was touched inappropriately as she slept in her room, police said. She was in the country on a school trip.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that a 16-year-old girl on the same trip was also inappropriately touched on the previous day in a similar manner, but that the incident was not reported.

In both of those incidents, no sign of forced entry was discovered. Police said additional charges are pending against Murdock.