WSMV Channel 4 Man arrested for Vanderbilt campus sexual assault

Metro police have arrested a convicted felon and charged him with raping a Vanderbilt University student inside a campus parking garage Friday. 

According to a news release, sex crimes detectives Sunday charged Tyrone Batts, 25, with two counts of rape attempted rape and robbery in Friday night's sexual assault of a 21-year-old woman inside the Terrace Place Garage off 21st Avenue.

Police believe Batts may also be the man behind three additional attacks against women early Sunday morning, two inside Baptist Hospital parking garages and one inside a Vanderbilt University Medical Center garage.

In the first case at 4:30 a.m. inside Baptist Hospital's Mid-State garage, the 31-year-old victim was sitting in her car when she reported that a man approached, talked to through her open window, and then attempted to sexually assault her. 

When she tried to use her cell phone to call for help, he took it.  She honked her horn and he fled with her cell phone. 

In the second incident at 6 a.m., a 31-year-old woman was pushed to the ground inside a VUMC garage on 21^st Avenue South.  A passerby saw the attack and the suspect fled with the victim's cell phone.  

The third incident occurred at 7:10 a.m. inside Baptist Hospital's 21^st Avenue North parking garage.  A 21-year-old woman was robbed of her work bag. 

All three victims this morning were hospital employees on break. 

A BOLO was issued shortly after the attacks.  Security spotted Batts, who matched the suspect description walking near Centennial Medical Center.

After a brief chase Batts was taken into custody by hospital security around 8:30 a.m.

During an interview with detectives, Batts admitted his involvement in Friday's attack.

The investigations in regard to today's incidents are continuing. 

At the time of his arrest, Batts was free on $50,000 bond for aggravated robbery and felon in possession of a weapon.  He was convicted last July of indecent exposure inside a West End parking garage. 

Batts was sentenced to three years for cocaine possession in 2008.

Copyright 2011 WSMV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.