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DNA Helps CoSprings Police Find Suspect In Sex Assault Cold Case

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Colorado Springs have made an arrest in a sexual assault case from 2001.

Barbara Miller with Colorado Springs police said on Aug., 2001, officers were called to a home in southeast Colorado Springs to investigate the kidnapping and sexual assault of a then 14-year-old girl.

"Further information was received that a Hispanic male had contacted the victim as she walked in the area of Delta Drive and South Chelton Road. The male offered a ride to the victim and took her to an isolated area near Hancock Expressway and South Academy Boulevard," Miller said in a statement.

Miller said the suspect threatened the girl with a knife and then sexually assaulted her.

"The victim was eventually able to escape from the suspect when another car drove into the area. The victim ran to the second vehicle and was driven out of the area to safety," Miller said.

The investigation didn't provide any leads to a suspect at the time. The case was then assigned to the Colorado Springs Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit. In September of 2011 investigators were contacted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and told of a DNA match to a suspect.

On Monday detectives got confirmation from the CBI of the identity of the suspect, who has been identified as Gerardo Garcia Cruz, 37. He faces felony charges of second degree kidnapping and sexual assault on a child.

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