Suspect named in Seattle attacks

SEATTLE — Police have identified a man they suspect of breaking into three southwest Seattle homes recently and attacking women.

They are looking for Michael W. Gebre, 19, of Santa Rosa, Calif.

Santa Rosa police have a warrant out for his arrest on two counts of burglary and one count of committing a lewd and lascivious act.

One of the Seattle attacks was linked to the California crimes on the basis of physical evidence, as well as the method of the crime, Seattle police spokeswoman Deanna Nollette said. She would not specify the nature of the physical evidence.

Police said they believe the same man has raped one woman and attacked two others since May 2 in the Delridge area of West Seattle.

In the latest attack early Sunday, a man who came to the woman’s rescue suffered minor stab wounds.

The Press Democrat newspaper of Santa Rosa reported that Gebre is sought there in relation to a series of break-ins and sexual assaults, and also a year-old gang shooting that left a victim paralyzed from the neck down.

Nollette said it’s not yet known what connections Gebre might have to the Seattle area, nor how he traveled to the area from California. Police did, however, recover a bicycle at the scene of one of the Seattle crimes that they believe may be connected to the crimes, as well as a knit cap and a jacket the assailant apparently left behind.