Accused Rapist May Have Had Other Victims

The Secure Watch employee arrested Friday following a Town ‘N Country rape may have had other victims, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s definitely a countywide issue because these ADT people go everywhere,” said Detective Larry McKinnon, sheriff’s office spokesman.

Rashad Hales, 19, of 4019 E. Grove St. in Tampa was charged with attempted first degree murder, kidnapping, sexual battery, armed burglary with battery and tampering with a witness following an attack in a Town ‘N Country neighborhood.

According to a sheriff’s office media release, the incident took place just before 6 p.m. Dec. 30 when Hales is said to have knocked on the front door of the victim’s home to drum up business for ADT security. When the woman opened the door, she told Hales her fiancé was out and he handled business of that nature, the release said.

Hales then left the home, but returned about 10 minutes later, the release said. When the victim answered the door, he told her he’d talked to her fiancé about signing up for security coverage. The victim tried to close the door, but Hales, the release said, prevented her from doing so and forced his way inside the home and locked the door.

Hales then began beating the victim and strangling her with his hands and an electrical cord, the release said. He told the victim “he should kill her,” and then “forced the victim to a back bedroom where he held and raped her.”

Following the assault, Hales forced the victim into the kitchen where he took a knife and held it to the victim’s throat, threatening to kill her if she told anyone. He then took the woman’s cell phone and fled the home on foot.

At this point, the victim’s fiancé returned home and called 911.

Patrol deputies, K9s and the county’s air service responded and set up a perimeter. They spotted the suspect running, the release said, and were able to track him to the Shell Gas Station parking lot at 11203 Sheldon Rd.

During an interview with detectives, Hales admitted to the attack and “regretted only that he did not kill the victim,” the release said.

That admission is what has detectives concerned there may be more victims, McKinnon said.

“He truly thought that she would not tell anyone, which is why he did not kill her,” McKinnon wrote in the release.

The victim in the case was medically cleared and released. Her name is not being released to protect her identity.

Hales has been booked into the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.

Anyone with information about Hales or who may have been a victim is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200.

Deputies were able to confirm that Hales does work for Secure Watch, which is an authorized dealer for ADT Security.