Police: Homeless Melbourne man tried to pull female jogger into bushes

MELBOURNE, Fla. — A homeless man has been accused of trying to kidnap a woman who was jogging in Melbourne on Sunday morning.

Authorities said the alleged victim was running on a paved trail in Wickham Park about 11 a.m. when John Fabian tried to grab her.

The 45-year-old jogger said Fabian, 48, jumped out of the bushes and tried to pull her back in.

Fabian is 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighs nearly twice as much as the woman, Channel 9’s Kathi Belich reported.

The woman was able to get away and notify authorities, who said she had tears running down her face when they arrived.

Records show Fabian was released from the state Department of Corrections custody about three years ago after doing time for two attacks on women.

In one case, he was arrested in a woman's house after telling Melbourne police he wanted to try to see her in the nude.

In the other case, Satellite Beach police said Fabian tried to rape a woman on the beach in front of her 4-year-old child.

Melbourne police told Channel 9 Fabian is too dangerous to get out again.

“It's showing a pattern of what he is capable of,” said Sgt. Sheridan Shelley. “Unfortunately, it's progressing and hopefully after yesterday's charges, it'll be enough to ensure he doesn't victimize anyone else in the future.”

Police said the jogger did exactly the right thing. They said she screamed, ran away and found the first officer she came to.

Fabian was arrested within an hour of the alleged attack, authorities said.

Fabian has been charged with attempted kidnapping and his bond was set at $150,000.

If Fabian posts bond, he’ll be hooked up to GPS monitor before he can leave jail.

WFTV