Gunman killed in 12-hour standoff suspected in earlier sex assault

By Rich Coleman

Monday, April 11, 2011 | 6:41 p.m.

A gunman who took a woman hostage during a 12-hour standoff last week is also suspected in a sexual assault that took place in the northwest valley five days earlier, Metro Police said Monday.

Michael Dean Chevalier Jr., 48, was shot and killed by officers the morning of April 4 after taking a woman hostage and sexually assaulting her in her apartment the previous afternoon at the Sedona Hills Apartments, 2895 E. Charleston Blvd.

Lt. Robert Duvall of Metro’s sexual assault division said during a Monday news conference that police believe Chevalier is also responsible for the sexual assault of a woman in the northwest valley after midnight March 30. Duvall said Chevalier apparently broke into a town home and waited for the woman to return.

Authorities didn't release other details about the location of the assault.

“When she did return home, the suspect bound her, sexually assaulted her and then undid the binding that caused the victim to turn on the suspect, injuring the suspect and leaving us evidence of the identity ... inside the house,” Duvall said.

Duvall said DNA evidence from blood found in the home was used to determine that Chevalier was involved in the March 30 incident.

“Our evidence is so strong that we’re closing that case as ‘subject identified,’ ” Duvall said. “Although there have been obviously no trials for Mr. Chevalier, we feel strong enough that we’re closing the case.”

Police are still investigating where Chevalier was staying while in Las Vegas and whether he might have more victims.

“If there are other victims, I can tell you that based on the reports we’re reading we haven’t seen any of this magnitude or this brutality,” Duvall said.

Duvall said there were “striking similarities” between the incident from March 30 and the 12-hour standoff on April 4.

Anyone with information about Chevalier or anyone who might be a victim is being urged to call police.