Police took 34-year-old Dralon Patterson into custody for evading arrest, later found him to be the suspect they were looking for in sexual assault case

DALLAS, Texas — Dallas police have arrested and charged a man who police say sexually assaulted a woman in an Uptown parking garage.

The suspect, identified Saturday night by police as 34-year-old Dralon Patterson, was taken into custody on an evading arrest charge after a short foot chase. During processing, investigative work from detectives found that Patterson was also responsible for the Friday night sexual assault.

The arrest came after the man approached another woman Friday night who called police. He fled when officers arrived and tossed a gun during the pursuit. Officers took him into custody for evading arrest.

Patterson's aggravated sexual assault charge is being filled right now, according to police. He is in Dallas County Jail. Bond has not been set yet.

Police say a woman was walking in the parking garage of her apartment complex, the AMLI Quadrangle on Howell Street, around midnight Friday when she was approached by a man.

After first “exchanging pleasantries,” the suspect threatened the woman with a weapon, forced her back into the car and then sexually assaulted her.

Police said the man took some of the woman’s belongings before disappearing on foot.

The suspect was described as a black man, around 30 years old, and standing 5-foot-9 with a medium build.

Police said he was wearing a gray do-rag, a dark T-shirt and a light colored jacket with gray sweatpants. He was described as unshaven and wearing older tennis shoes.

Deputy Chief Thomas Castro said that the department didn't know if the man was homeless or lived near the area.

Castro also added that additional patrols will be in Uptown this weekend due to the attack.

He said before ending a press conference that a more thorough follow-up interview with the victim will be done in the coming days.

Detectives said that the attack happened in the lower level of the garage and that they hadn't located any surveillance footage of the suspect just yet.

Castro asked businesses and nearby homeowners for help with that.

"Please look at your surveillance footage, and see if this suspect was captured on your camera system," Castro said. "If so, we need to hear from you."

Residents at the AMLI Quadrangle received a notice about the attack late Friday.

Allison Stoker, a grad student, lives there and said every line of the email filled her with fear.

"I'm still shaking," Stoker said. "I'm supposed to be here another six months and right now I don't feel safe and I don't feel happy."

Stoker said the details of the case hit her like a ton of bricks, adding that she got home from grad school and was in her garage just a few hours before the attack.

She said she has some questions for management now.

"What are we doing to beef up security? This isn't OK."

Nearby residents, like Kristen Liebert, were on edge too. Liebert talked to WFAA just before she headed out on a run by the AMLI Quadrangle.

"It's pretty scary to think about, just last night I myself walked home and didn't think anything of it," Liebert said.

She added that it's important for everyone in the area, especially women, to remain vigilant.

"You think you live in a place that's your home, your neighborhood, and there's a lot of people around you that you want to trust---but unfortunately you can't trust everyone."