Police arrest groping suspect

Seattle police have arrested a man in connection with a groping attack on a woman in Rainier Valley on Saturday and are looking into whether he's behind 22 similar attacks in the area over the past two years.

The man was picked out of a photo montage by witnesses to the most recent attack in the 7500 block of Renton Avenue South. Witnesses offered police a detailed description of the man and said that he fled in a green 1994 Jeep Cherokee.

Police arrested Darran Bolar, a 37-year-old Seattle man, at 11:30 a.m. today and booked him into the King County Jail. He has been charged with fourth-degree assault for the groping and second-degree robbery, stemming from the theft of a witness' cellphone during Saturday's attack.

On Saturday, Bolar groped an Asian or Asian-American woman who was walking with a toddler, police said. When the woman screamed Bolar backed away, but the sound drew the attention of several witnesses, police said.

Police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said officers have linked Bolar to some of the 22 other attacks in the area since August 2006.

None of the victims, who range from teenagers to 52, was raped or critically injured in the attacks. Most were Asian or Asian-American.

Police said the man normally runs off after his victims scream for help. Many of the attacks occurred at bus stops.

Police said this is the first time the man has attacked since March, and the sixth time since January. In January, the groper grabbed and chased two girls, ages 13 and 14.

"We believe he is responsible for some of the attacks, he's still being investigated for them," said Whitcomb said.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com