Ravenel man charged with sexual assaults, burglaries

A Ravenel man wanted in connection with a series of sexual assaults and burglaries that prompted Charleston's Police Chief to warn residents to keep their doors and windows locked was arrested Tuesday night by Charleston and North Charleston police.

Michael Anthony Washington, 30, was taken into custody at his residence without incident. Charleston police charged him with two counts of first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. North Charleston police charged him with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree burglary.

The assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and burglary occurred on May 27 on Smith Street, and the sexual assault and burglary occurred on June 14 on Radcliffe Street, both in Charleston, police said. The North Charleston sexual assault and burglary occurred on June 8, 2007 on Mosstree Road, police said.

The Radcliffe Street and Mosstree Road incidents were both burglaries and rapes, and Smith Street was a burglary and attempted sexual assault, according to police reports.

Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen last week said police were investigating the three incidents for similarities. It was unclear late Tuesday whether police had connected or excluded Washington from two other downtown incidents that occurred late last year.

In those incidents, young women were confronted by an intruder in their home downtown in the Radcliffborough neighborhood.

Mullen said in all the cases the description of the suspect was similar. He was described as a tall, heavyset black man with puffy cheeks and short hair or a shaved head.

"We're going to continue to investigate each one of these until we can either eliminate them from being connected or we can prove that they are," Mullen said last week.

"What we're recommending is that everybody keep their doors and windows closed and locked and that they use security systems if they have them," the chief said last week.

Washington's photograph and description was not available late Tuesday.