Sexual assault report in Brookings leads to arrest

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BROOKINGS — A report of a 37-year-old Brookings woman being sexually assaulted in her home on Tuesday led to the arrest of an Aberdeen man on Thursday.

Sea Atwood, 51, was taken into custody on suspicion of second-degree rape by the Aberdeen Police Department, according to information in a news release from the Brookings Police Department. He remained in the Brown County Jail as of Friday morning. 

BPD Detective Adam Smith wrote that, according to the woman, Atwood inspected her residence earlier Tuesday for HUD Housing. After the inspection was completed, Atwood left, only to return a short time later saying he needed to look at some more things. Atwood walked through the woman’s residence again before sexually assaulting her. She was able to get away from Atwood and he left her residence.

Smith wrote that, on Wednesday, the APD located and interviewed Atwood, who denied assaulting the victim. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued and Atwood was arrested in Aberdeen on Thursday.