Florida woman attacked, bitten while jogging on Seminole County trail
A 22-year-old woman was attacked while jogging in Altamonte Springs, Florida on Monday night, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said. The suspect was captured on a homeowner’s surveillance video, and authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – An arrest has been made after a woman was attacked and bitten while running earlier this week on a trail in Seminole County, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said early Wednesday.
The 22-year-old woman was attacked while jogging in Altamonte Springs, Florida on Monday night.
The alleged attacker – a 19-year-old man – was captured on a homeowner’s surveillance video camera following the woman, and later located by Seminole County Sheriff’s Office detectives for questioning.
WATCH: Surveillance video shows suspect who attacked jogger in Seminole County
Authorities have released surveillance video that allegedly shows the person who attacked a woman while she was jogging in Altamonte Springs. Officials hope someone may recognize the person or have seen what happened. Seminole County Sheriff said the woman was able to defend herself, and scream for help.
Sheriff Dennis Lemma said the woman was running on the West Wekiva Trail, west of Hunt Club Blvd., around 8:45 p.m., when she noticed someone was behind her. She stopped running to conserve energy and took out her headphones.
The man continued to follow her and then ran after her – and caught up to her.
“Before she knew it, she was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground by this man,” said Sheriff Lemma. “She had one hand on her pants, one hand on her phone, as he grabs from behind and moves his body in a sexual motion on top of her.”
Early Wednesday, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of William Paul Stamper, 19, of Longwood. Stamper was arrested on a charge of attempted sexual battery.
Sheriff Lemma said the man also bit the woman on her back during the attack.
“When he was on top of her, he clamped down and bit her in the back, and then she has injuries associated with the fall to the concrete,” he said.
The woman screamed for help, and a neighbor heard and called 911. Another neighbor then jumped a fence and the man ran away, Sheriff Lemma said.
Sheriff Lemma said the woman does not know the man. “A total stranger,” Sheriff Lemma said, adding that the woman was notified a couple of weeks ago that she may have been followed by someone while running. It’s unclear if the two incidents are connected.
Sheriff Lemma said he believes the woman may have been targeted, and that the man learned her pattern of activity. Investigators are hoping someone may have been in the area and saw something or the man.
Nora Torres said she’s lives in the Wekiva subdivision for about a year and a half.
Officials provide update on jogger attacked in Seminole County
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma offers details about an alleged attack on a jogger on the Wekiwa Springs Trail on Monday evening.
“It’s really quiet,” said Torres. “I have two children. I walk with them around the neighborhood. I walk with them in the stroller. I never felt uncomfortable or anything, so it’s surprising to me.”
After what happened, she’s changing her routines.
“I’m not going to go any more alone. I used to go with the baby a lot in the mornings. But I’m scared, so I probably won’t go back by myself.”
Brackston Martin said he’s rethinking his home security after the incident.
“It’s a little alarming. I’m definitely more nervous about walking the dog after sundown. We have kids that are at Wekiva Elementary that walk home from school, so that’s a little disconcerting,” he said. “But at the same time, the community seems relatively on top of it.”