Police arrest Kittanning suspect in rape, strangulation cases

A Kittanning man who is accused of sexually assaulting and strangling multiple women was arrested Wednesday, state police said.

Zachary William Baum, 24, is facing several charges, including rape, corruption of minors, strangulation, harassment, indecent assault, simple assault, open lewdness, harassment and disseminating photos or videos of child sex acts, court documents show.

According to police, the sexual assaults occurred over the course of many years. Baum often would message random women on Facebook before meeting them, police said.

Officers considered Baum to be “highly dangerous and violent.”