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Boston Police: GPS Puts Suspect At Scene Of Arboretum Sex Assault

BOSTON (CBS) - Boston police officers have arrested a man on charges related to a sexual assault in the Arnold Arboretum earlier this week.

A woman told officers she was sexually assaulted and robbed at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Jamaica Plain park.

Prosecutors said the woman was studying near a dirt path when the suspect robbed her at knife point then telling her to perform a sex act to get back her belongings. After assaulting the woman the man fled on a bicycle, prosecutors said.

WBZ-TV's Carl Stevens Reports

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The suspect, 23-year-old Ashton Davis, was wearing a GPS bracelet he was ordered to wear when released after his arrest in another rape at knife point.

An attorney for Davis said he did not know if his client was at the Arboretum at the time of the alleged attack.

But Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 that Davis' GPS bracelet placed him at the scene.

"That's one of the greatest benefits of technology," Evans said. "Some of these people are released. Sometimes they don't  deserve to be released but when they have a bracelet on it allows us to follow where they are."

Davis was also picked out of a photo array by the victim.

He was arraigned in Roxbury District Court on charges of aggravated rape and armed robbery and ordered held on $50,000 bail on the new charge. His bail from the prior rape charge was revoked.

Prosecutor Kristina Kerwin said Davis "had shown to be a trued danger to the community."

His friends told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens that he has a history of mental health issues, and had been off of his medication.

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