ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County deputies have arrested a man they said attacked and dragged a woman into a retention pond near Woodbury Road in May.
Deputies said Patrick Howard, 30, has previous arrests for sex crimes in Tennessee and is now in jail on charges related to the May incident, including kidnapping with intent to inflict harm/terrorize and attempted sexual battery.
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Deputies said testimony from the survivor, as well as work by detectives, crime scene investigators and a forensic botanist, helped link Howard to the crime.
According to an arrest report, the woman who was attacked said she was walking on the sidewalk of Woodbury Road near Waterford Lakes around midnight when an unknown man jogged toward her before grabbing her from behind and dragging her to the pond. She said the man submerged her head under the water.
She told deputies while the man loosened his pants, she was able to run toward a nearby apartment complex where a vehicle was pulling in.
Orange County deputies have arrested a man they said attacked and dragged a woman into a retention pond near Woodbury Road in May.
Deputies said Patrick Howard has previous arrests for sex crimes in Tennessee and is now in jail on charges related to the May incident, including kidnapping with intent to inflict harm/terrorize and attempted sexual battery.
READ: Coronavirus vaccine trials begin; find out how you can volunteer
Deputies said testimony from the survivor, as well as work by detectives, crime scene investigators and a forensic botanist, helped link Howard to the crime.
According to an arrest report, the woman who was attacked said she was walking on the sidewalk of Woodbury Road near Waterford Lakes around midnight when an unknown man jogged toward her before grabbing her from behind and dragging her to the pond. She said the man submerged her head under the water.
She told deputies while the man loosened his pants, she was able to run toward a nearby apartment complex where a vehicle was pulling in.
Deputies said the woman sustained minor injuries to her hands, face, and neck as a result of the attack.
Deputies said they were able to link Howard to the incident after his work van was spotted on in the area around the same time.
Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates.
On 5/12, a woman was attacked & dragged into a retention pond. Thanks to the survivor, detectives, CSI & a forensic botanist, Patrick Howard, who has committed other sex crimes in TN, is in jail on Kidnapping w/intent to inflict harm/terrorize & Attempted Sexual Battery charges. pic.twitter.com/1no2UZPkdv
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) July 9, 2020
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