Caught on camera Columbus man faces rape and burglary charges
Columbus, OH — A 33-year-old man with an active felony warrant was arrested after a string of overnight break-in attempts in Northwest Columbus neighborhoods, where surveillance footage captured him walking through yards and checking for unlocked doors, police said.
Rovan Spears was taken into custody on January 15, nearly a week after a wave of burglary-in-progress calls came in during the early morning hours of January 9. Between 1:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., officers responded to two separate burglary reports along the Hard Road corridor between Sawmill Road and Smoky Row Road. Additional reports of attempted break-ins continued throughout the day.
Police said the same male suspect, dressed in dark clothing, appeared in multiple doorbell camera videos moving through residential areas between 12:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., attempting to enter homes.
Thanks to community-submitted tips and footage, investigators identified the suspect as Rovan Spears. In addition to the ongoing investigation, police discovered Spears already had an active felony warrant for strangulation at the time of his arrest.
Spears has been charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and two counts of attempted rape. Police said additional charges may follow as the investigation progresses.
Authorities continue to encourage residents with any information or relevant surveillance footage to contact Detective Martin at 614-645-4701 or submit anonymous tips to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).
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Key Points
- Rovan Spears, 33, was arrested in Columbus after a series of attempted burglaries and alleged assaults
- Spears faces charges of aggravated burglary and attempted rape, with more charges possible
- Community-submitted video and tips helped lead to the arrest
