Tip, DNA leads police to suspect in Florida Memorial University rape
The Miami Gardens Police Department held a news conference on Wednesday morning to announce that they have identified a suspect they believe is tied to the rape of a Florida Memorial University student over the weekend.
The announcement comes one day after police said a person of interest was detained and taken into custody for questioning.
According to Miami Gardens police, detectives on Tuesday conducted an extensive area canvas and surveillance operation that involved an individual who matched the suspect's description – a black male, wearing a black hoodie and black pants.
Later in the afternoon, police said they were notified about a tip to the Opa-locka Police Department regarding a suspicious person that matched the suspect's description.
Investigators quickly responded to the scene, and the person was taken into custody for questioning.
Police say there may be more victims
Miami Gardens police said that a DNA warrant was executed, and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory worked throughout the night to process the evidence.
At approximately 7 a.m. this morning, the lab confirmed a positive DNA match.
Based on that, the suspect was identified as 30-year-old Steven Rivers. Police said he had just been released from jail in December on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior.
Police said they remain committed to public safety and are encouraging residents and students to be aware of their surrounding and report any suspicious activity.
Investigators said that they believe that there may be additional victims.
What happened at Florida Memorial University?
Miami Gardens police said a student was raped on campus early Sunday morning. According to police, the victim, an international student from Colombia, was attacked after returning to campus from a bus stop on NW 42nd Avenue.
Police said that the suspect whistled at the victim before she sought safety by returning to school grounds, where campus security checked her ID and let her in.
However, police said the suspect jumped a campus wall, chased the victim, and then sexually assaulted her before fleeing.
Florida Memorial University students say more security is needed
After word of the sexual assault spread on campus, several students CBS News Miami spoke with said more security was needed.
Adonis Clarke, a freshman at FMU, told CBS News Miami that he was shocked by the reported incident and demanded more security on campus.
We are here to be protected and they are not doing their job," he said. "It's crazy... they need to do a better job. This is not right. Especially at FMU — this is not the first incident to happen and they have to do better."