A man suspected of eight rapes of women and little girls that terrorized the north end of Miami-Dade County in 2003 is in custody, police confirmed Thursday.
Miami-Dade police would not release many details about the case but said they think they have caught the so-called North Dade Rapist, a feared predator whose last attack was on two sisters ages 7 and 8.
''An individual who is currently incarcerated in another jurisdiction on unrelated charges is being investigated regarding these rapes,'' said police spokesman Bobby Williams.
He declined to say where the suspect was being held.
Detectives plan to hold a news conference today to give more details about the case.
Police say the North Dade Rapist may have tried to attack a ninth woman, but was chased off by a family member.
The attacks occurred over a period of about a year, from Christmas 2002 through late November 2003. Then they stopped.
The man caused panic across a broad swath of Northwest Miami-Dade, in the general vicinity of the Carol City, Norland and West Little River neighborhoods.
He broke into homes early in the morning and raped the women and girls in their beds.
In at least two cases, the rapist got in through an open window. He often wore a mask over his face and threatened his victims with a gun.
The police investigation was complicated because the victims described an average-looking man with no distinguishing characteristics.
Though the attacks began in December 2002, police did not realize they were looking for a serial rapist until DNA connected the first three cases in June 2003.
The police handling of the cases sparked an outcry from some residents who felt they should have been notified earlier that a predator was prowling the area.
