A Long Beach man was arrested Thursday for being connected to two sexual assault cases, police said Tuesday.

The investigation began on June 29 around 11:30PM when Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) officers dispatched to an alley in the area of Del Amo and Long Beach Boulevard and found a 31-year-old woman who had been beaten and sexually assaulted, police said. Long Beach Fire Department personnel transported her to a local hospital.

It appeared the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Raymond Demetrius Howard of Long Beach, followed the victim from a nearby bus depot prior to the assault.

LBPD detectives found a photo of the possible suspect and learned that the Signal Hill Police Department was investigating a sexual assault incident with a similar suspect description. Investigators believe the suspect used a handgun to assault the victims in both cases.

Long Beach Sex Crimes Detail and Signal Hill Vice Detail detectives served a search warrant at Howard’s residence and arrested him for the assaults, police said.

Long Beach and Signal Hill Police Detectives presented the case to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office on Tuesday for filing consideration. The District Attorney’s Office files charges against Howard, including assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem, attempted human trafficking, robbery, criminal threats, rape and other sexual assault related charges. He is currently being held on $5,650,000 bail.

Victims of an unreported crime or those who have any information regarding the investigated assaults are urged to contact Long Beach Police Sex Crimes Detective Luis Galvan at 562-570-6407. Anonymous tips may also be submitted by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus the tip to 274637 (CRIMES) or visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org.