Man accused of UF campus rape, kidnapping, captured in Polk County

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A 24-year-old Gainesville man wanted on charges of kidnapping a woman and forcing her to have sex just feet from the University of Florida campus, was arrested in Polk County, officials said.

Christopher Gonzalez Cruz had been on the run since the Sept. 11 incident, the Gainesville Police Department said.

Cruz is accused of meeting a 19-year-old woman at the Grog House and convincing her to join him in his car to “make out,” a Gainesville police report said.

The bar is across the street from UF’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

“While inside the vehicle, Cruz forced the victim to have sexual intercourse against her will,” the report said.

When the woman started to cry and yell, Cruz quickly drove away with her in the car, police said.

A University of Florida police officer saw Cruz speeding away and took chase, attempting to conduct a traffic stop.

Eventually the man pulled over, but immediately got out of the vehicle and fled on foot, investigators said.

Police set up a perimeter and used multiple K-9 teams and a helicopter in an unsuccessful attempt to find him, GPD said.

Detectives responded to the scene and interviewed the victim, who identified Cruz as her attacker from a photo lineup, police said.

On Monday, the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force tracked Cruz down at his brother’s home on Shirley Court in Eagle Lake.

After conducting surveillance on the residence, marshals used four takedown vehicles to stop Cruz as he left the home, investigators said.

He was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail and is awaiting extradition back to Alachua County, where he faces charges of sexual battery and kidnapping.

Cruz was also wanted on an unrelated warrant charging him with trespass and burglary.

Family members with Cruz when he was arrested told investigators they had no idea he was wanted by police.

Cox Media Group