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Letter to the editor

Man arrested shortly after attack on homeless couple

By Tamara El-Khoury, Times Staff Writer
Published February 16, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Jesus Escudero was captured 30 minutes after the attack.

KENNETH CITY - A St. Petersburg man was arrested Friday in the attack of a homeless couple about 1 a.m.

According to Pinellas County sheriff's detectives, Jesus Escudero, 31, is suspected of approaching the sleeping couple's campsite at the 4500 block of 66th Street N in Kenneth City and attacking the 48-year-old male with a brick.

Escudero allegedly then used the brick to strike the 42-year-old female in the head.

The male victim couldn't stop the attack and ran to a pay phone to call 911, according to the Sheriff's Office. When he returned to the campsite, he learned the female victim was raped and the assailant had fled.

Thirty minutes after arriving at the scene, Deputy Jake Viano and his dog Valor tracked Escudero.

Escudero was arrested on two counts of aggravated battery and one count each of sexual battery, battery on a law enforcement officer, petty theft and providing a false name to a law enforcement officer.

In addition, he was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court on an unrelated grand theft charge.

The female victim, who is not being identified because of the nature of the crime, was transported to a hospital. The male victim refused medical treatment.

There is no indication that the suspect and victims knew each other prior to the attack, said sheriff's Sgt. Jim Bordner.

[Last modified February 16, 2008, 01:15:34]