UW-Milwaukee graduate arrested in Madison, accused of violent assault and rape

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A UW-Milwaukee graduate is in jail Wednesday after he was arrested and charged for allegedly raping a UW-Madison student.

26-year-old Brandon Thompson was arrested early Wednesday morning, three days after the Sunday morning attack.

He's accused of attacking a woman in the early morning hours near the intersection of Wilson and Bedford, assaulting her, then raping her.

That woman was severely injured and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Days later, police say she is expected to survive.

Thompson graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a Criminal Justice degree and a minor in Psychology.

He is now charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree reckless injury, and strangulation.

Madison police said Thompson was tracked down using surveillance video from business owners and community members, as well as biological evidence.

Assistant Chief of the Madison Police Department Paige Valenta said, "We're looking at a variety of biological evidence right now, and we certainly intend to, and have, submitted evidence to the Crime Lab in the biological realm."

But Thompson's attorney maintained he's innocent until proven guilty, and told us things can change in the early stages of an investigation.

Attorney Emily Bell said, "We don't have any of the evidence yet, so we have no idea what is potentially going to show on any videos that may exist, we don't what's going to come back with DNA evidence. We really don't have any information."

Thompson's attorney said he is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Dane County.