Man arrested for series of random attacks in Downtown Dallas

DALLAS - A Downtown Dallas organization is asking any additional victims to come forward after a series of seemingly random attacks.

The suspect is now behind bars, but records show he's been released in the past before allegedly attacking again.   

Two women who filed police reports spoke with FOX 4 after they say they were randomly attacked. However, it appears there are more victims.                     

Brianne Boettcher says she was knocked to the ground by Cody Burkett while walking along Main Street in Downtown Dallas Monday afternoon. 

"I felt and heard someone running behind me, but it was like happening too fast for me to react. And he just shoved me to the ground onto the pavement," she recalled. "He just kept walking. Straight away. I screamed at him, but that’s about it."

Boettcher is part of a growing list of people claiming to have been assaulted by Burkett in downtown.

Lee Ann Lewis, a downtown business owner, says she’s seen Burkett plenty of times before. But this past weekend, she says he put his hands on her.

"All of a sudden, he just came up from behind me and grabbed me and just started yelling gibberish in my ear," she said.

Lewis took video of Dallas police officer detaining Burkett. A post to Facebook generated dozens of interactions. Some people claiming to also be victims. 

"I think that that really was a good push to get some sort of traction, some sort of change," she said.

Downtown Dallas Inc, a non-profit that provides security services to downtown, says it’s now working with Dallas police and the district attorney’s office to hold Burkett accountable. 

Court records reveal Burkett was supposed to begin a 45-day jail sentence on Dec. 3 for an assault against a woman last month, but police say he assaulted another person just 13 days later.

A public records search on Burkett uncovered 53 criminal filings, including convictions of multiple aggravated assaults and kidnapping, which led to prison time. 

Records show Burkett has had court-ordered mental health evaluations in the past. In his recent mugshot, a hand appears to be bracing him. 

"I’m actually very thankful that they have finally done something about this," said Lewis. "Because, hopefully, we get Cody Burkett off the street."

Downtown Dallas Inc says some other alleged victims of Burkett have chosen to not file police reports. They’re asking anyone who’s a victim to do so.

"The only way it’s going to work is if citizens and police work together for a common ground to make changes," said Lewis.

Boettcher is recovering from minor injuries. Moving forward, she cannot help but feel a bit different about walking through her downtown neighborhood.

"I’ve been walking around downtown for years, and that was the first time it happened," she said. "So I do feel a little more… scared."

Burkett does not have a bond amount listed online. He’s been in jail since Tuesday afternoon.