Rape Suspect Was Crime Watch Block Captain
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A man suspected in a string of rapes in South Dallas remains at large and his neighbors say was hiding in plain sight until just a few days ago.
Dallas Police say DNA evidence linked Van Dralan Dixson, 38, to at least one of nine victims in a serial sexual assault case. A tenth sexual assault was reported over the weekend. Police are trying to determine if it is linked to the previous nine attacks.
Dixson, of Dallas, has been on the neighborhood watch group since January, Alendra Lyons, president of Dallas community group Mill City Community Association, confirmed to CBS DFW. Lyons said he had been acting in that capacity since the allegations surfaced. Lyons said she never had any problems with him before that.
Late Sunday, Dallas police released a statement that said Dixson has left his children in the care of family members. "Dallas Police detectives have no information that leads to the belief that suspect Dixson is on the run with his children," the statement said.
Also police said Dixson's vehicle was located in a Garland parking lot. It's now in the City of Dallas Auto Pound.
Dixson was seen at his home just a few days ago, neighbors said.
To them, Dixson was a known as a "quite guy that kind of kept to himself," who frequently walked the streets in the neighborhood.
One neighbor, who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation, said she and many others in her neighborhood had been taking extra precautions and living in fear knowing a serial rapist was in the area.
"I felt like who ever it was, it was somebody that was familiar with the neighborhood because of some of the streets they were showing," she said.
Little did she know the suspect predator lives just a few houses down the street.
"I wouldn't have thought it was him," she said. "It's scary to live that close to someone that's doing that."
Despite heightened police presence, Dixson has not been captured and neighbors say they won't feel safe until he is.
"It was very scary, it still is, until they catch him," she said.
The reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of Dixson is $15,000.
Dixson is described as a black male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes, weighing 185 lbs.
If you have information on his whereabouts, call Dallas Police.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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