Man attacked 3 women in Mesquite, Garland apartments before his arrest, police say
A Mesquite man was in custody Friday in Dallas after he was arrested in a series of attacks on women in Mesquite and Garland apartment complexes.
Police said Justin D. Smith, 39, was a suspect in three attacks, two in Mesquite and one in Garland in August.
Smith was arrested Aug. 27, and he remained in the Dallas County Jail in Dallas on Friday.
Detectives are seeking the public’s help in determining if there have been additional victims or if anyone has been in recent contact with Smith.
The series of attacks began Aug. 23 in Garland. A woman reported she had been physically and sexually assaulted during a home invasion before the stranger fled in her stole vehicle.
The next day, a woman told authorities that a man asked for directions in the parking lot of her Mesquite apartment complex in the 2700 block of U.S. 80. He opened her car door and restrained her until she was able to honk the horn, causing him to flee.
Mesquite officers also responded to the 5900 block of Northwest Drive, where a woman told police she was washing her car when a man began choking her inside her vehicle until a witness intervened.
Police found Smith at a nearby apartment complex. He faces charges of attempted murder, evading arrest, unlawful restraint, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated robbery (home invasion).
Anyone who has information about previous offenses in Garland is asked to call Garland Police Investigator Seaberry at 972-205-1672. Anyone with information about previous offenses in Mesquite is asked to call Mesquite Police Investigator Soto at 972-216-6704
This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 4:28 PM.
