Sarasota Man Charged With Sexual Battery At Siesta Key Mall

SARASOTA, FL -- Sarasota Police have arrested a 22-year-old Sarasota man following a reported sexual battery inside the Westfield Siesta Key mall.

Jamal Abrams of Livingstone Street, Sarasota, has been charged with one count of sexual battery following the incident that occurred inside the mall at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Officers responded to the mall after the victim reported to mall security that she had been attacked. The victim told officers she was sitting on the ground in the hallway of the mall across from the family restroom, charging her iPad, when Abrams, who she is acquainted with, arrived unexpectedly.

The victim said Abrams sat next to her, grabbed her neck and forced her to kiss him. The victim pushed Abrams away and told him to stop. Abrams then reportedly grabbed the victim's backpack and iPad and took them into the family restroom. The victim said he then tried lure her into the restroom to get her belongings back.

The victim stood by the door and said Abrams grabbed her and dragged her into the restroom where he sexually assaulted her. After the attack, she alerted mall security.

The victim identified Abrams to police and he was arrested and transported to the Sarasota County Jail without incident.

Captain Johnathan Todd, commander of the Sarasota Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, praised the victim for reporting the incident quickly.

"I'm happy the victim was able to get away and notify security," said Todd. "The quicker we know about a case, the quicker we can begin our investigation and solve it."

Image via Sarasota Police

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