LOWNDES CO., Ga. – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office recently worked with the Portland, Oregon Police to facilitate the arrest of a sex assault suspect.

On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, detectives with the Portland Police Bureau’s Sex Crimes Unit, in collaboration with the Hillsboro Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office,  arrested a suspect connected to multiple sexual assault cases from Portland.

Helio Ferreira, 41, was arrested in Valdosta, Georgia, where he is a pastor in the community.

This investigation is related to sexual assault cases from 2012, 2016, and 2018 that investigators were able to connect. Due to the sensitivity of the cases, and the on-going investigation, further details are not subject to release at this time. This case is not related to the Sex Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office has been a key partner in the collaborative effort to assist in these cases.

Portland Police Bureau Detectives are actively looking to see if there are other related cases. If you have information to assist with the investigations, or information you believe could be connected, please contact Detective Ross Dormady at (503) 823-0880 or ross.dormady@portlandpolice.gov