Police Arrest Tisbury Man in Connection with Assault

Police last night apprehended a Vineyard Haven man in connection
with a violent sexual assault that took place in the early morning hours
Monday at the home of a 36-year-old woman.

Scott Donavan, 34, was found in a residence in Oak Bluffs around 7
p.m., according to West Tisbury police Sgt. Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter. He
had been identified by the woman as her attacker yesterday, before she
was transported to the Martha's Vineyard Community Hospital for
treatment. Federal privacy laws prevent the release of any further
details about the victim or her condition.

"We are very relieved that he is in custody," Mr. Manter
said last night.

"We found him in a condition that required medical attention.
An ambulance was called and he was transported to the hospital,"
he added.

The arrest came after a daylong search and included joint work by
the Oak Bluffs and West Tisbury police and the Massachusetts state
police, Mr. Manter said. "It was the result of an ongoing
investigation and our following up on leads and other information that
came in during the day," he said.

No further details about the arrest were available at press time.

"Taking care of his medical condition is the first priority,
and when that is resolved he will be brought to the Dukes County jail,
and to the courthouse on the next arraignment date," Mr. Manter
said.

Edgartown District Court had issued an arrest warrant Monday morning
for Mr. Donavan, who was considered armed and extremely dangerous, and
all airlines and ferry services were notified to be on the lookout. The
police departments in every Island town also cooperated in the
investigation.

The suspect allegedly broke into the victim's home and
sexually assaulted her, according to the police press release. Police
say the suspect used a knife in the attack, made reference to a gun, and
left the scene in the victim's vehicle. The woman was home alone
at the time.

West Tisbury police were dispatched to the scene shortly before 5
a.m. on Monday morning. An Islandwide broadcast was soon issued for Mr.

Donavan, his pickup truck and the victim's vehicle. Oak Bluffs
police located the victim's unoccupied vehicle around 7 a.m., and
the suspect's truck was found in West Tisbury around 9:30 a.m.

After a search warrant was issued, state police crime scene
technicians arrived on the Island to examine the vehicles and site of
the alleged incident.

Mr. Manter said West Tisbury police chief Beth Toomey is out of town
for professional training, but was informed of the situation and working
closely with him on the investigation from afar.