Local man arraigned in prostitute attacks

A Roseville man police believed to be connected to a series of sexual assaults on Sacramento prostitutes was arraigned Monday in Sacramento Superior Court on 17 counts, including rape, kidnapping, impersonating an officer, sexual assault and robbery. Phillip Tafoya, 39, was arrested Jan. 6 by Roseville Police after an alleged assault the day before on a prostitute. Sacramento Police say Tafoya picked up the victim in a white BMW at approximately 3 a.m. near Stockton Boulevard and Gerber Road, telling her he was an Army agent helping police combat prostitution.Tafoya then requested identification from the woman. Police say he took $100 from her wallet, and drove to her residence under threat of arrest, where he raped her.The victim gave officers the license plate number of the suspect's vehicle, which led police to Tafoya's place of residence on Second Street in Roseville. He was taken into custody by Roseville Police.While being processed into the Sacramento County Jail, a female inmate identified Tafoya and claimed he had assaulted her two weeks previously. Tafoya was also charged with a Nov. 26 assault on a prostitute in Sacramento, where similar tactics were used.Tafoya is currently in the Sacramento County Jail. Bail is $2.1 million. Police continue to investigate, and say he may be linked to other incidents.