The 22-year-old man who faces charges in four sexual assaults in the Millwoods area used social-networking websites to meet his victims, Edmonton police said Tuesday.

After the man contacted the women online, a relationship developed over several days "where the complainants felt there was a level of trust," said Staff Sgt. Brian Readman, the officer in charge of the sexual assault unit of Edmonton Police.

"On each of the occasions, the suspect lured them into a remote area, and on some of the occasions a weapon was produced, the complainants were threatened, sexually assaulted and robbed," he said.

The man is in custody, and charges are pending. The assaults are alleged to have taken place in Millwoods between July 29 and Aug. 4.

Police first tried to arrest the man on Monday, but he was able to run away. He was located and arrested in Millwoods around noon Tuesday by the specialized tactical unit of Edmonton police.

The man is not originally from Edmonton and has an immigration warrant out for his arrest.

Police did not release his name Tuesday afternoon, as he was not yet formally charged.

People who use social networking sites need to be careful, Readman said.

"I cannot stress enough that when people are using social networking sites that they use extreme caution, especially in the first one or two meetings … make sure that it's in a very controlled environment."

While police know what social networking site was allegedly used by the suspect, Readman said he could not make that information public.