SWAT officers have arrested an 18-year-old man in a violent attack on a woman at a Tacoma day care that occurred early Monday, and police said evidence of a rape was found at the crime scene.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Kevin McCarty said SWAT officers served a warrant at a home a few blocks from the Tender Heart Learning Center, where a female employee was assaulted as she was opening the business.

Police said the 26-year-old woman was opening the business at 6:40 a.m. when a man approached her and said he was interested in enrolling his son.

Once inside, he severely beat the woman, and Tacoma police said evidence found at the day care pointed to a violent sexual assault.

Police said they tracked down Andrake Dione Morris through eyewitness accounts, and he was arrested at his home Monday evening.

“He is what we’re calling a violent sexual predator,” said Loretta Cool of the Tacoma Police Department.

Morris appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, where his bail was set at $1 million. A judge ordered media to not show his face during his court appearance.

Two women were at Morris’ court appearance. One said she was Morris’ grandmother.

McCarty spoke with a relative of Morris, who said he had been trying to help Morris and was angry about his arrest.

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist requested a 72-hour hold for the ongoing investigation. 

Police said Morris may be a suspect in other crimes and KIRO 7 obtained photos of Morris from social media sites.

Morris will be back in court Thursday and is expected to be formally charged.