UPDATE: Police: Pueblo woman forced into car and raped
A Pueblo woman said she felt safer Tuesday night after learning that the man accused of sexually assaulting her was behind bars.
Pueblo police said the woman was waiting at a bus stop in an east side neighborhood Monday night was forced into a car and sexually assaulted.
The attack happened at around 9:30 p.m.
Police say the victim was walking down E. 8th Street near Fountain Avenue when a car pulled up to her. She said the man offered her a ride, and that when she declined, the man forced her into his car.
The victim says the man drove her to either W. 19th Street or W. 20th Street and raped her. She said he then took her back to where he kidnapped her, gave her $10 and took off.
Police say a suspect, identified as Brian Maloney, has been arrested. Police say he claims the sex was consensual.
KRDO NewsChannel 13 does not name or identify victims of sexual assault. The woman said she hopes the man who did this stays locked away.
“I hope he goes to jail so no one else has to go through it,” said the woman. “I don’t have to worry about him coming to get me.”
Her fiance Jacob is devastated. KRDO NewsChannel 13 is withholding his last name to protect the victim’s identity.
“Failure as a man because I wasn’t there. It’s had me cry my eyes out because I wasn’t there. I should have been and therefore because I wasn’t,” said Jacob.
The woman said it was the scariest moment of her life and an experience that will stay with her.
“I feel bad sometimes and I keep crying,” said the woman. “I keep crying but he (my fiance) says I shouldn’t feel bad because it made me feel like it was my fault.”
Pueblo police Capt. Eric Bravo said the police who responded to the call recognized the suspect’s description. Bravo said he is a familiar face for the Police Department.
“The suspect, Maloney, he is well-known. He is one that tends to show up on calls and I think a lot of officers know him. I think it’s interesting to find out he is involved in this,” said Bravo.
Maloney faces charges for kidnapping and sexual assault. Maloney plead guilty to harassment in 1998.
