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Mountain View police arrested a man this week in connection with the 2007 rape of a 22-year-old woman who was assaulted at knifepoint in her residence on Terra Bella Avenue.

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, police took Ramon Jayardo, 37, of San Jose, into custody on charges of aggravated rape with a weapon enhancement at his employer's office on the 900 block of Terra Bella Avenue, following a short standoff.

The suspect allegedly attacked the victim on Aug. 28, 2007 at her residence, which is also on the 900 block of Terra Bella Avenue. Police say Jayardo, who was working for a construction company in the area, wore a mask and hood and hid outside the victim's home, waiting for her on the morning of the crime. He allegedly confronted the victim as she was leaving, and dragged her back inside.

"He knew what time she was leaving," police spokesperson Liz Wylie said. "We were suspicious the suspect was stalking her. As it turns out, he was working right there."

Police say there was no evidence connecting Jayardo to the rape at the time of the crime. Jayardo moved to Georgia shortly afterward, according to Wylie, and has multiple aliases. He is often known as Melchor Paredes and has a criminal record, she said.

Jayardo returned from Georgia in December and started working for the same construction company. Police received a tip two weeks ago from someone who knew Jayardo, and became suspicious that he may be connected to the crime. Police are not releasing the informant's name.

"The tip was vague, but it was all we had," Wylie said.

Following the tip, police started investigating Jayardo and collected physical evidence from him, Wylie said. The County Crime Lab confirmed last weekend that this physical evidence matched evidence collected at the time of the crime.

Police located Jayardo at his employer's office on Tuesday. The suspect attempted to hide in the attic, but after an hour officers entered and took him into custody. He was booked into the main jail in San Jose on one count of rape with no bail. He faces a lifetime sentence, Wylie said.

Police are still investigating the case and working with Georgia police, she said.

"We have concerns about what he did while he was there," Wylie said. "Who else did he rape?"

The Mountain View Police Department press release is here.

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