Rockville rape suspect has lengthy criminal history, Montgomery County police say

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Police have identified a man they say was arrested in connection with the rape of a woman early Wednesday morning near a busy road in Rockville.

Investigators say 25-year-old Dustin Thomas Rogers was taken into custody Wednesday night after he used a choke hold to overpower the victim before pulling her into the wooded area along Frederick Road and West Gude Drive at about 12:10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Detectives said the woman, who had just left the Shady Grove Metro station, fought back throughout the attack, but found it difficult to breathe as Rogers struck her in the face and torso during the sexual assault.

According to documents, she grabbed her cellphone and tried to call 911, but Rogers took it and threw it away. The woman told Rogers she had AIDS in an attempt to get him to stop, but he replied that he had a condom, according to the documents.

The woman was able to break free and run to a nearby office building where security guards called police. The victim was hospitalized and is still recovering from the attack.

When police arrived at the scene they found Rogers' black iPhone, according to officials.

After receiving a description of Rogers, police located him at a nearby 7-Eleven trying to make a purchase.

He faces first-degree rape and first-degree assault charges. Officials said he was also charged with a separate count of first-degree assault from an unrelated incident.

Rogers has a lengthy criminal history. When FOX 5 requested a booking photo from police, they were able to send 12 photos from prior encounters with the law. According to court records, Rogers has been convicted of a crime at least three times in the last seven years.

Montgomery County police said they had a warrant for Rogers' arrest after he pulled a knife on someone in Germantown on Friday. He is being held without bond.