Victims Describe Similar Suspect in Robbery, Sexual Battery Cases

Tampa Police detectives were investigating a robbery from earlier this week when they discovered a suspect description in a Tuesday rape was quite similar.

Although it is unclear if the same person did indeed commit both crimes, police and the robbery victims sat down with a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office sketch artist to put together an image of the man wanted in that case.

The first case occurred around 4:30 a.m. Sunday when an armed man walked into an apartment on 13th Street North and demanded money from the people inside. The man got his money and ran.

The person wanted in that case is described as a black male between the age of 25 and 30. He stands between 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet, 11 inches in height and weighs about 190 pounds. Victims described him as being of an average build, having dark skin and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a baggie white T-shirt and baggie black shorts.

The second case occurred around 7:52 a.m. Tuesday when a man broke into the home of a woman in her 20s near East Columbus Drive and Interstate 275. The man bound the victim and committed a sexual assault. He then fled.

The woman banged on her wall to get help from neighbors, who then called police.

The suspect in that case is described as a black male between the age of 25 and 28. He is between 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet, 11 inches in height. The suspect has medium to dark skin and a medium build. He was wearing a dark shirt, jeans and a black bandana.

Anyone with information on either case is asked to call the Tampa Police Department at 813-231-6130.

Photo Credit: A police sketch of the suspect in the Sept. 7 robbery. Courtesy of the Tampa Police Department