ARLINGTON, Va. ( DC News Now ) — Police arrested an Arlington man Thursday night for his involvement in a rape that happened earlier that morning.
The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) said a preliminary investigation shows that a woman was walking in the Crystal City area when she got into a conversation with the suspect, 40-year-old Vernon Koning.
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He eventually led her to an outdoor area in the 200 block of 12th St., close to Gateway Green Park, where he sexually and physically assaulted her. She managed to escape the scene and got help in the 900 block of Long Bridge Dr. ACPD responded to the report of a rape around 2:15 a.m.
ACPD immediately began interviewing witnesses and looking over evidence which led them to identifying Koning as the suspect.
Later that day, ACPD caught Koning at a traffic stop and took him into custody. He was being held without bond at the Arlington County Detention Facility. He is being charged with rape and strangulation.