Update: Vacuum Cleaner Wielding 80-Year-Old's Attacker Arrested

Update Oct. 14, 4:15 p.m.: The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has released its arrest affidavit in the Oct. 10 attack on an 80-year-old Zephyrhills woman. The teen arrested is a 15-year-old student from Zephyrhills High School.

According to the report, the teen knocked on the woman’s door around 2:15 p.m., asking to come in to use the restroom. When the woman told him no, he forced his way inside. He then jumped on top of the woman and tried to remove her pants. The woman struggled, but could not get away, the report said.

The teen held the woman down while he masturbated, the report said.

At this point, the woman was able to grab an attachment to her vacuum cleaner that was nearby and began hitting her attacker with it. The teen took the Bissell vacuum and ran out of the home.

Deputies found the vacuum in a grassy area near the woman’s home, the report said.

The teen was connected to the crime through prints left on the vacuum and the description the woman provided. The woman’s clothing has also been sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. That agency’s lab confirmed the presence of semen on the clothing.

The teen, who is not being identified by Patch, lives near the woman’s home and rides a school bus that stops in front of her home. He was charged with home invasion, attempted sexual battery and kidnapping, the report stated.

Earlier:

When a person broke into an 80-year-old Zephyrhills woman’s home last Friday and tried to sexually assault her, the woman fought back.

Using a vacuum cleaner part to strike back at the intruder, the woman was successful in getting him to change his plans. The intruder grabbed the vacuum instead and ran out of the 23rd Street home.

A search for the attacker and the vacuum was launched by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. A composite sketch of the suspect was circulated and police even warned anyone who came across the vacuum cleaner to leave it alone and just call them since it’s evidence in the case.

Now, deputies say they’ve found the person responsible.

A 15-year-old was arrested Tuesday in conjunction with the attack. He was brought into custody Tuesday. Details about the arrest have not been released, nor has the teen’s name.

It is unclear if the vacuum was recovered.

See Also:

• 80-Year-Old Woman Uses Vacuum to Fight Off Attacker
• Luke Bryan Fans Help Cops Catch a Suspected Thief
• Thieves Drove Away with 36,000 Pounds of Crisco
• Clearwater Man Finds Live Grenade on Water Heater
• Housekeeper Pawned Elderly Client’s 1957 Wedding Present, Cops Say
• Armed Robber Sends Selfie to Victim’s Friend, Cops Say

Photo Credit: This was the sketch released of the suspected attacker.