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Pennsylvania man arrested for Portage County bike trail rapes

Investigators linked Wendling to the assaults through DNA evidence.

The Portage County Sheriff's Office announced Friday that a Pennsylvania man who previously lived in Canton was arrested for a series of sexual assaults on the Berlin Hike and Bike Trail.

The sheriff's office announced during a news conference Friday that 37-year-old Shawn Michael Wendling was arrested Friday morning in Poland Township. The sheriff's office says Wendling used to live on 26th Street NE in Canton before moving to Hillsville, Pennsylvania.

The first reported incident occurred June 14 at the north end of the Berlin Hike and Bike Trail. Wendling allegedly grabbed a 68-year-old woman, threw her down an embankment and sexually assaulted her. Wendling also stole the victim's phone and jewelry.

The sheriff's office also says another incident occurred that same day, when a female on her bike reported a man slapped her on the buttocks.

RELATED | Two women assaulted in two months on popular Portage County trail

Another incident happened Aug. 13, when a 47-year-old woman reported that a man knocked her off her bike and down an embankment, where he sexually assaulted her. He took the victim's clothing, bicycle and belongings before he fled.

Poland Township police received report of another incident Sept. 4 when a 30-year-old woman said she was assaulted in Poland Township Park. She said a man grabbed her, threw her off the roadway into the brush and assaulted her.

Investigators linked Wendling to the assaults through DNA evidence that matched a relative already in the state's database.

Wendling is scheduled for arraignment in Portage County Municipal Court Monday.

The Ohio Attorney General‘s Office released the following statement:

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued the following statement on the arrest of an alleged serial rapist who was identified with the help of familial DNA testing:

"When my office's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) began conducting familial DNA testing in Ohio in 2016, we reserved this scientific analysis for the most serious unsolved crimes and serial cases with a public safety component. The assaults targeting women in parks and bike trails in the areas of Portage, Stark, and Mahoning counties met all the criteria needed for me to authorize the use of this specialized DNA testing for this case.

"Our BCI scientists worked exceptionally hard to conduct this complex testing, which ultimately identified a potential relative of the unknown attacker in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). A team of local, state, and federal investigators then used that investigative lead to help pinpoint a suspect. Approximately 14 hours after the familial DNA testing results were released, authorities made an arrest.

"I am truly grateful to all of the local and federal investigating agencies, as well as our BCI scientists, special agents, and criminal intelligence analysts, who dedicated themselves to this case. This is a strong example of our commitment to protecting Ohio's residents and holding sexual predators accountable.

"My office will continue to assist authorities in this investigation."

Shawn Wendling, 37, of Hillsville, Pennsylvania, is currently incarcerated in the Portage County Jail.

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