Police arrest Rockdale man for alleged rape of roommate

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William Swiderski, 42, of Rockdale

Updated: January 23, 2012 10:51AM

ROCKDALE — Police say a convicted bank robber who tied up and raped his roommate Tuesday has been taken into custody.

Chief Robert Dykstra said U.S. Marshals found William Swiderski, 42, during a traffic stop around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Taylor Falls, Minn. near St. Paul.

Swiderski is expected to be extradited back to Illinois to face four counts of criminal sexual assault and unlawful restraint.

In September, Swiderski rented a house in the 1000 block of Moen Avenue and advertised for a roommate online, Chief Robert Dykstra said.

“A 38-year-old woman answered the ad and has been living there for about a month, but was not in a relationship with him,” Dykstra said.

Around 1 a.m. Tuesday, the woman was walking past the door of his room when Swiderski allegedly came out, pushed her down and tried to handcuff her.

“She began fighting back aggressively and (broke) the handcuffs, but he was able to tie her up with some rope and sexually assaulted her twice,” Dykstra said. “He left her tied up while he went to work, but she was able to free herself and ran to the gas station at Moen and Larkin avenues.”

During the alleged attack, Swiderski reportedly held a knife or other sharp object in the victim’s ribs. She was treated at a hospital for cuts and bruises.

Police found Swiderski’s vehicle parked at his workplace on Oak Leaf Drive in Joliet, but the suspect had left.

On Jan. 9, 1987, Swiderski fired a gun while robbing a bank in Burbank. Records show he was sentenced to federal prison, until he was released on Dec. 4, 2009.

While serving time in Oxford, Wis. during his 22 years behind bars, Swiderski raped his cellmate, reports said.