photo by: Journal-World File Photo

A Lawrence police car sits outside a crime scene in this file photo from 2009.

A Lawrence man was charged Monday with first-degree attempted murder and attempted rape, according to Douglas County District Court records.

The circumstances surrounding the arrest were unclear, but 30-year-old Raju Tamang allegedly tried to kill a victim by strangling her with a phone cord but failed or “was prevented or intercepted in executing said crime,” according to the charges in his case.

He also reportedly tried to remove the victim’s clothing and touch her “toward the perpetration of the crime of Rape,” according to the charges.

The crimes allegedly occurred on Friday, Sept. 13.

Tamang was initially arrested at 10:46 p.m. that day in the 1300 block of Vantuyl Drive, which is north of Bob Billings Parkway between Monterey Way and Wakarusa Drive, on suspicion of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated domestic battery, criminal restraint and aggravated burglary, according to the Douglas County Jail booking log. However, the district attorney’s office did not file any of those charges and instead charged Tamang with two high-severity felonies.

According to online court and jail records, Tamang was being held Tuesday on $500,000 cash or surety bond. He also has a hold from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the booking log.

The Journal-World has requested Tamang’s booking photo from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office but did not receive a response regarding whether it would be released Tuesday.

Tamang’s next court appearance is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 1, online court records indicate.