Police identify suspect in Montgomery County attempted rape

Montgomery County police have arrested a 24-year-old man who they say followed a woman into a men's restroom and tried to rape her.

Police say they have arrested and charged Joao B. Rodrigues of the 8200 block of Amity Circle in Gaithersburg, with the attempted second-degree rape of an adult female that occurred at an apartment complex located at 8010 Gramercy Boulevard in Derwood.

According to officials, Rodrigues told the female custodian at a Derwood apartment complex that the men's room was out of paper towels.

When she went in to the men's room to replace them, the Rodrigues allegedly followed the victim and tried to sexually assault her. Investigators say she was able to break free, and then she called the police.

Police say they were able to identify the suspect based on surveillance photographs of the suspect walking in the area of Crabbs Branch Way and Shady Grove Road and watched as he walked into the apartment building.

The suspect then walked to the bathrooms where the attempted rape had taken place.

During a interview with detectives, Rodrigues stated that he had entered the building on previous occasions to use the bathroom and admitted guilt during the interview.

Montgomery County police say Rodrigues was transported to the Central Processing Unit for processing and held without bond.