A man accused of sexually assaulting three women along San Francisco’s 24th Street corridor over several months in 2011 allegedly confessed to the crimes after being arrested in January, a police inspector said today.
Frederick Dozier Jr., 32, continued his preliminary hearing today on 26 felony counts, including attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, attempted rape, forcible oral copulation and other sexual assault charges.
Dozier was arrested on Jan. 6 in connection with the violent attacks, which occurred on June 17 near 24th Street and South Van Ness Avenue, on Nov. 18 near 24th Street and Potrero Avenue, and on Dec. 8 near 24th and Fair Oaks streets, prosecutors said.
The crimes prompted public outcry and a community meeting attended by hundreds of people.
The preliminary hearing in the case started Thursday and continued today, when police Inspector Joseph Nannery said Dozier admitted to his involvement in all three attacks.
“He said he was by himself” and admitted to the attacks after initially denying being out on those nights, Nannery said.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Bruce Chan said he would review the evidence in the case and rule next Monday on whether Dozier should stand trial on any or all of the charges.
A tip to investigators had led to Dozier being identified as the alleged attacker, and his DNA was later matched with evidence found at the crime scenes, police said.
In each case, the victim was attacked from behind by the suspect, who then sexually assaulted and robbed them, police officers testified earlier in the hearing.
The third and final of the attacks, on Dec. 8, was so violent that it left a pool of blood from the victim on the sidewalk, police Officer Antonio Claudio said.
Claudio said the victim told him she was attacked from behind and put her in a chokehold, causing her to pass out.
When she regained consciousness, she was bleeding from the face and was being sexually assaulted by the suspect, who also punched her in the face and slammed her head on the concrete, Claudio said.
Dozier was employed as a part-time nutrition services worker with San Francisco Unified School District and also worked for Green Streets, a janitorial services company that operates at low-income housing complexes including Bernal Dwellings on Cesar Chavez Street, where he was arrested.
He remains in custody and faces life in prison if convicted of all charges, according to prosecutors.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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