Tampa Man Accused Of Assaulting Elderly Woman Arrested

TAMPA, FL — Tampa police have arrested a 55-year-old man after he was accused of assaulting an elderly woman in Tampa.

According to police, the elderly woman was walking to work Thursday morning she noticed someone following her in a Honda Accord when she was violently assaulted. The man then approached the woman and tried to proposition her. The woman told him to leave her alone and then tripped as she tried to run to a nearby business. The man caught up to her and began kicking and punching her on the head and upper body. He then left in his car.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries and multiple lacerations. She currently remains hospitalized for a possible cardiac injury due to the assault.

During their investigation, Detectives learned information pointing to Antonio Whitehead as a suspect. Late Friday night, detectives received a tip through Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay that Whitehead was at the Salvation Army at 1514 N. Florida Ave.

Officers spotted a car matching the description of the Whitehead's vehicle in the parking lot and saw Whitehead enter the building. Officers took Whitehead into custody without incident.

Whitehead was transported to the Orient Road Jail where he was charged with aggravated battery on a victim age 65 years or older. Additionally, he was charged with violation of probation for felony sale, delivery and manufacturing of cocaine and obstructing an investigation.