from channel 10….
The man accused of being the ‘Hilltop Creeper’ made a brief stop in court on today before being rushed from the room.
Overnight, officers combed through evidence collected from the home of Deneen Leonard Black.
Authorities arrested Black Tuesday evening in connection with a string of home break-ins and assaults during the night and early morning hours. Black was arrested at his Hilltop home and was charged with one count of burglary.
Police said that Black has now confessed to breaking into a home in Sullivant Avenue in July and also committing numerous “similar crimes.”
Fingerprints at the Sullivant Avenue scene matched Black’s, according to Sgt. Dave Pelphrey.
“This suspect was touching the victim’s lips with his fingers. She lay motionless and the suspect left the residence,” said a court official on Wednesday.
That physical evidence led to police conducting surveillance on Black.
“As the surveillance continued, sometimes around the clock, we saw that Mr. Black did exhibit behaviors that we attributed to the action of the ‘Hilltop Creeper,'” Pelphrey said.
Law enforcement officials have hunted for months for the ”Hilltop Creeper,” who was known to sneak into women’s homes and stand over them while they sleep. In some cases, the man touched victims inappropriately.
A woman who lived with him said that she was unaware of what was happening.
“Mr. Black was still under surveillance yesterday morning when we filed the warrant. Once the warrant was filed, the surveillance team moved into place and placed Mr. Black under arrest without further incident,” said Pelphrey.
Detectives said Black cooperated and gave them information that makes them confident he is responsible for most, if not all, of the 19 incidents linked to the “Hilltop Creeper” case.
Black is currently charged with burglary and is being held at the Franklin County Jail.
Pelphrey said that Columbus residents should still be vigilant.
“It still is a good idea to continue to have a safety plan, prepare for things like this to happen, not just the west side but any place in the city this could pop up,” Pelphrey said.
Black is a registered sex offender from a 2004 conviction for sexual battery.
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