Suspected serial rapist captured in Miami's Little Haiti, police say

An intense manhunt in and around Little Haiti ended with a chase and the capture of a man Wednesday morning who police say has terrorized up to six women, some who were sexually battered, at least one who was raped and at least two others who were kidnapped.

Up until Tavares Anthony Canty was taken into custody after dropping his bicycle and racing away on foot in Northwest Miami-Dade Wednesday, police had only told the public that they believed the career criminal was responsible for the attempted kidnapping of a woman and the rape of another one last Friday.

They never announced publicly they were searching for a suspected serial rapist.

And that's why Canty's charged with three counts of sexual battery with a deadly weapon; one count of sexual battery with a weapon, attempted serious personal injury; two counts of burglary with armed assault or battery; two counts of kidnapping with a weapon, firearm or aggravated battery; one count of aggravated assault with a firearm; one count of kidnapping, punishable by life; one count of burglary with assault or battery, punishable by life; and one count of resisting an officer without violence.

Two of those cases happened within an hour of each other on Friday, alarming residents in the neighborhood and police. Two others, Colina said, happened between Friday's assaults and Wednesday when Canty was captured.

"He is our rapist that we've been looking for," Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina said during a hastily called press conference at police headquarters. "There is absolutely no doubt this would have continued."

Police have matched Canty's DNA to at least one victim, Colina said.

Police were so concerned about Canty's whereabouts that they released surveillance video of his assault on a woman in Little Haiti last week, asked for the public's help in spotting him, flooded the neighborhood with law enforcement and issued a reward for his capture. They were also finalizing plans to up the reward.

"We were setting up a tip line, too," Colina said.

"He was extremely dangerous," said the chief. "He knew we were looking for him."

The alarming nature of the sexual assaults brought back memories to some of Reynaldo E. Rapolo, a man dubbed the "Shenandoah Rapist" during a year-long crime spree in which he stalked and raped women between the ages of 11 and 79 and taunted police in Miami's Shenandoah and Little Havana neighborhoods. Rapolo escaped jail after his initial arrest, causing alarm throughout Miami-Dade, and was later recaptured. He is currently serving five life sentences.

Police also said they don't believe Canty has any connection to a man police refer to as "The Creeper," a man who they believe broke into the homes of 40 single women in Miami, Miami Beach and Coral Gables between 2013 and 2015 at night and without forced entry. He sexually assaulted at least two of the women. One was awakened with the suspect's head between her legs. He hasn't been captured.

As for Canty, 35, police became aware of him Friday morning after he attacked two women in Little Haiti within an hour. In the first instance he was caught on surveillance video outside the woman's home trying to force her inside as she looked down at her cellphone. The woman managed to escape, run to a friend and call police. About an hour later, police believe Canty, still on the prowl, broke into another woman's home and raped her at gunpoint.

Police soon released a flier with Canty's picture on it and offered a reward for his capture. Colina said they received numerous tips between Friday's rape and Canty's capture on Wednesday. It was a tip Wednesday from someone who called police that led them to the area of Northwest 24th Avenue and 65th Street, about 20 blocks west of Little Haiti.

After police arrived and spotted him, he initially took off on his bike, then abandoned it and ran on foot, police said. Colina said Canty resisted officers' attempts to take him into custody. Colina said there may be other victims out there.

"If not for the help of the public, we would not have been able to make this arrest," said the chief. "If you believe you're a victim and have not reported it, please come forward."

Canty, who has used various aliases over the years, has a lengthy violent criminal history dating back to his early teens police said and state records show. Colina said he's been arrested 23 times and has nine convictions. State records show he's been arrested 13 times by five different law enforcement agencies for crimes that include armed burglary, carrying a concealed weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

He has spent two stints in prison. The first, two years in the early 2000s. Then, six years from 2007 through 2013.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show Canty's life of crime began during his mid-teens when he was arrested by Miami Shores police in 1996 for vehicular theft. Ten days later, he was arrested by Miami police on an armed robbery charge. The records show Canty was arrested five times before he turned 18, twice for aggravated assault with a weapon.

As an adult, state records show, Canty was convicted on charges including battery, disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana, grand theft, aggravated battery, burglary, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

It wasn't immediately clear what charges sent him to prison. His last arrest, state records show, was in July of 2004 by Opa-locka police for armed burglary and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Those charges were dropped.