Tyrone Batts, 25, is charged with two counts of rape, attempted rape and robbery charges.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Metro police arrested a convicted felon on Sunday who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman inside a parking garage on Vanderbilt University's campus on Friday night.
Authorities told Nashville's News 2 Tyrone Batts, 25, is also suspected in three additional attacks against women that occurred early Sunday morning.
Two of those incidents occurred at parking garages at Baptist Hospital, while the third occurred inside a Vanderbilt University Medical Center garage.
According to police, the first incident on Sunday occurred around 4:30 a.m. inside Baptist Hospital's Mid-State garage.
The 31-year-old victim told police she was sitting in her car when a man approached her and engaged her in conversation through her open window before he attempted to sexually assault her.
The victim said when she attempted to call for help, Batts took her cell phone.
He fled the scene with the phone when the victim began honking her horn.
The second incident, involving another 31-year-old woman occurred at 6 a.m.
Police said the victim was pushed to the ground inside a VUMC parking garage located on 21st Avenue South.
Authorities reported that a passerby saw the attack.
The suspect fled the scene with the victim's cell phone.
The final incident occurred just after 7 a.m. inside Baptist Hospital's 21st Avenue North parking garage.
Officers said the 21-year-old victim was robbed of her work bag.
According to authorities, all three women involved in Sunday morning's attacks were hospital employees on break.
Batts was taken into custody around 8:30 a.m. after security personnel spotted him walking on Leslie Avenue near Centennial Medical Center.
He was taken into custody after a brief chase by Centennial security and was held for Metro police.
Police recovered the victims' cell phones and work bag.
"It is clear that Batts posed a significant and continuing danger to our community up until this morning," Chief Steve Anderson said. "The heightened state of alert by hospital security personnel combined with the excellent work of our Sex Crimes Unit has today made Nashville a safer place."
During a police interview, Batts is said to have admitted his involvement in Friday night's attack involving a 21-year-old woman.
Vanderbilt student Ana Guitierrez told Nashville's News 2 she has been afraid since learning of the incidents.
"Now I've been having to call walking escort and it's not even been in bad hours, it's at 7 p.m., so that's very scary."
Student Jessica Chamish added, "We always travel in groups. I never find myself alone, so that's good."
Authorities are continuing to investigate Sunday's attacks. Vanderbilt University police are also assisting in the investigation.
Police said Batts was free on $50,000 bond for aggravated robbery and felony possession of a weapon at the time of his arrest.
Batts was also convicted last July of indecent exposure inside a West End parking garage and was sentenced to three years for cocaine possession in 2008.
The 25-year-old man's photo is being withheld pending forthcoming lineups.
He is currently facing two counts of rape, attempted rape and robbery charges.
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