BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The Birmingham man charged in the robbery and sexual assault of four UAB students is in custody.

Roderick Gaston, 27, surrendered to the Jefferson County Jail this morning. He is currently being booked into the jail.

Gaston walked into the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office warrant division this morning with his attorney and surrendered.

Gaston is charged with 12 felony crimes: four counts of robbery, four counts of kidnapping and four counts of sodomy. His bond is set at $3 million.

The Birmingham Police Department's Crime Reduction Team and UAB police searched all weekend for Gaston. He got in touch with officers and told them he would surrender this morning with his attorney present.

UAB officials on Saturday announced Gaston's identity and said he had been formally charged in the Oct. 13th attacks of the four students. The students were in the16th Street Parking Deck about 10:30 p.m. when police say Gaston approached them.

He ordered them at gunpoint to undress and the forced the two female victims to perform oral sex on the two male victims. One of the male victims was beaten. He and the two women were later treated at UAB Hospital's emergency room.

Multiple people reported seeing Gaston in the UAB vicinity last week, and at least two people reported he was exposing himself to employees near the 1917 Clinic, but those reports have not been confirmed. UAB officials told AL.com police responded to numerous sightings throughout the week but didn't have any knowledge of Gaston exposing himself to anyone.

Gaston was released from an Alabama prison on June 30, 2014 after serving four years and nine months on three robbery convictions out of Jefferson County.

According to court records, Gaston, 27, in 2009 pleaded guilty to kidnapping and robbery charges. He was sentenced to a year in prison.

In that case, Gaston repeatedly hit a woman he used to date and demanded she give him money, according to a Birmingham News article. Gaston pushed her and a toddler into a car and drove away. The woman jumped out of the car at a red light.

He drove the child to daycare and was later arrested.

In 2010, he pleaded guilty to robbery. In that case, Gaston used a gun to steal $500 and a truck key, records state. He was given four years in prison and three years probation.

Also in 2010, he pleaded guilty to stealing a purse and $100 from a woman at gunpoint.

On Friday, prosecutors asked a Jefferson County judge to revoke Gaston's probation in that case saying he violated the terms of his probation.

The motion stated he had been charged Friday with four counts each of kidnapping, robbery and sodomy. Each count carried a $250,000 bond.

A judge granted that request and ordered Gaston be held without bond on the probation violation.

UAB President Ray Watts issued this statement today following Gaston's surrender:

"As I said this week when we announced the $5,000 reward, we will do all we can to see that the individual guilty of this crime is prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.



Although this suspect is in custody, we will maintain the increased patrols and police presence I hope you have already noticed on campus. We continue to advise students, faculty and staff who are heading out at night to make use of the Blazer Express and safety escorts. Please note, my previous email included an inaccurate detail about the hours of operation for the Blazer Express bus service; updated/accurate information is below in bold text.



Effective Oct. 19, hours of door-to-door safety escorts, which can be arranged by calling 934-8772, have been extended to seven days a week, 9 p.m. (previously midnight) until 5:30 a.m. Blazer Express buses will continue to operate from 5:30 a.m. to midnight (service will not end at 9 p.m.). While those are the hours of operation for these services offered through UAB Parking and Transportation, individuals in need of a safety escort from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. can arrange one with the UAB Police Department at 934-4434. Safety tips and contact information for services are available online at www.uab.edu/students/safety.

I continue to ask that you please be thoughtful and remember that those most affected by Monday night's event have a right to privacy and to be shown respect."

Updated at 12:33 p.m. to include a statement from UAB President Ray Watts.