Student Helps GTPD Nab Attempted Rape Suspect

Acting on a tip from a student who recognized the suspect from a Clery Alert, officers of the Georgia Tech Police Department were able to identify and apprehend the suspect in an off-campus attempted rape early Friday.         

GTPD identified Joshua Manns from a prior case on campus in July in which he was arrested and charged with multiple counts of stalking. After a GTPD officer identified Manns from the earlier case, a Georgia Tech student who had seen the Clery Alert called GTPD to report that someone in the University House Apartments parking deck matched the photograph. GTPD detained the suspect, who then turned over to the Atlanta Police Department (APD.)

“We want to thank this student who took the ‘See Something, Say Something’ slogan to heart,” said GTPD Chief Rob Connolly. “This was a team effort among our students, the officers of the Georgia Tech Police Department and Atlanta Police.”

APD received the initial call at 1:20 a.m. Because the incident took place off campus at the Square on Fifth apartments, 848 Spring St. NW, which is in APD’s jurisdiction, Manns was formally charged by APD with criminal attempt to commit rape and burglary and subsequently booked into the Fulton County jail.

When APD officers arrived on the scene, they were met by the victim, the victim’s roommate and roommate’s boyfriend. Preliminary information indicated that while entering her apartment building, the victim was followed by the suspect into the building.

As the victim opened her door, the suspect forced her inside and began struggling with the victim to pull off her clothing. The victim began screaming, and the victim’s roommate and the roommate’s boyfriend heard her and ran to her aid. The suspect fled from the apartment and exited the building. Georgia Tech Police also responded to the scene. The victim was examined by emergency medical services and released on scene with no reports of injury.