Moorhead police have arrested a man in connection with an especially violent rape in downtown Moorhead.
Police say numerous tips from the release of video surveillance led to the arrest of Richard Haaland.
The Fargo man was arrested Friday night for sexual and physical assault. Haaland faces charges related to a September 6th attack where a victim says she was punched in the face and sexually assaulted.
From Moorhead Police (9/24/12)
The Moorhead Police Department received several tips after the release of video surveillance of a male in the downtown area during the early morning hours near the time of an assault that occurred on September 6th. As a direct result, investigators gathered additional interviews and evidence that has furthered this investigation and resulted in an arrest.
Late Friday night, Moorhead Investigators partnered with Fargo officers and arrested Richard Lee Haaland (46 year old from Fargo) on charges of Felony 1st Degree Sexual Assault and 3rd Degree Physical Assault. A search warrant was executed on his North Fargo residence. Richard Haaland is currently being held in the Cass County Jail.
We are unable to release additional information at this time as the investigation is on-going.
From Moorhead Police (9/18/12)
The Moorhead Police Department has posted three Felony investigation surveillance photos and video on their website in hopes that viewers can provide information that may assist advancing the three unrelated criminal investigations.
Numerous local businesses have cooperated with law enforcement by allowing investigators to view outside surveillance videos in hopes of furthering significant Felony investigations. It is through these partnerships that the Moorhead Police Department is able to make these important images that may help solve these open felony crimes.
Website Video: http://www.moorheadpolice.com/investigations/wanted.asp
Moorhead Police are looking to identify this male that was in the area of a downtown physical sexual assault that happened on September 6th. The male is wearing all black, a tight shirt and a necklace. The male suspect in this incident approached a female while she was exiting her vehicle on 5th Street near Main Avenue shortly after 4:00 a.m. The male suspect violently struck the female in the face repeatedly with his fist causing significant facial injury prior to sexually assaulting her. The male suspect in this investigation in unknown to the victim. We are very interested in the identification of the male in this video to help advance this on-going investigation.
Photos of a suspect are also posted showing a male suspect that is responsible for driving a stolen vehicle directly into a tree prior to leaving the scene as a passenger in a black SUV.
Surveillance photos previously released to the media of a male suspect in the Travel Mart Burglary that occurred on Hwy #75 North in Moorhead on 9/12/2012 are also currently posted on the website.
We are asking for the public's help with identifying any of the people in these photos. Anyone with information or possible identification is asked to call the Red River Dispatch Center at (701) 451-7660 and ask to speak with the on-duty Moorhead Police Supervisor.
From Moorhead Police (9/13/12)
The Moorhead Police Department is investigating a reported physical/sexual assault that occurred on Thursday September 6th at 4:10 a.m. near 5th Street and Main Avenue. The adult female victim was confronted by a male while she was exiting her parked car. The male violently struck the female in the face multiple times in the face prior to sexually assaulting her. The assailant is unknown to the victim.
The investigation has been on-going, with the release of these images from a Moorhead business surveillance camera for a person of interest. This male was reported to be wearing a somewhat unique all black outfit. The male in this surveillance video is observed smoking and wearing a neck chain. After the assault, the male reportedly chased the female on foot when she fled the scene. The female ran out into traffic on Main Avenue and was able to stop a vehicle and receive assistance.
There are several images attached to this release taken from video surveillance. We are asking for the public's help with identifying this person of interest. Anyone with information that may help this investigation or identify this suspect is asked to call the Red River Dispatch Center at (701) 451-7660 and ask to speak with the on-duty Moorhead Police Supervisor.
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