Vigilant Antis

A sex offender is blamed for a three day spree of attacking and robbing female cyclists and pedestrians on Portland streets.

Detectives arrested 25-year-old Rodney Marcus Arreguin on Tuesday for five robberies, where police say he knocked the victims down, then took their bags and property.

Katie Highes was riding her bike to work in Northeast Portland Monday when she said Arreguin drove up beside her, grabbed her arm and pushed her to the ground. He then stopped, got out of the car and came over to Hughes, at first reassuring her, then taking off with her messenger bag.

She suffered cuts, bruises and a chipped bone in her hand, but realized it could have been worse.

“I initially thought it was just a cyclist-motorist altercation,“ she said. “It wasn’t until later that I realized ... I was really lucky. He really didn’t get much stuff.”

Arreguin was charged with five counts of robbery, failing to register as a sex offender and violating parole.

Investigators said that and four other similar robberies were reported Sunday and Monday.

Detectives were able to stake out the area where the robberies happened and identified a car to make the arrest Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Police were looking for any more possible victims and said anyone with information should call Detective Chris Brace at (503) 823-3761.