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Search Continues For Cantonment Carjacking, Attempted Rape Suspect

New details have been released about a man that is suspected of attacking two women in Cantonment last week.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office believes the man that carjacked a woman Thursday morning at the Raceway gas station at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road is likely the same man that pulled a female jogger into the woods and tried to sexually attack her minutes later.

The complete description of the suspect, as released Monday by the Sheriff’s Office is:

• dark-skinned black male, about 5-foot 8 inches to 5-foot 10 inches tall
• medium, thick build
• broad shoulders
• his skin had a “rough” texture (similar to acne scars)
• may or may not have a mustache (the first victim said he did, the second said he did not)
• short black hair
• last seen wearing a black semi-faded t-shirt with short sleeves and white writing or logo, and blue jeans

Ab0ut 8:15 last Thursday morning, a women reported that she pumped gas at the Raceway station and entered the store. While she was inside, the black male suspect entered her unlocked vehicle and concealed himself in the backseat. The victim did not see the suspect and drove away from the store.

The suspect confronted the victim once the vehicle was moving. He told her that he had a knife and to keep driving or he would “stick” her. She drove around randomly and eventually drove to a neighbor’s residence. Once there she honked the car’s horn in distress to get someone’s attention. The suspect struck her and pushed her from the vehicle.

He left in the car, heading back towards Highway 29. The victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Shortly afterward, the vehicle was located on Pine Street.

Less than 20 minutes later, deputies received a call about the attempted sexual battery of a female jogger on Rocky Avenue. The victim reported that as she was jogging when an unknown black male suspect grabbed her from behind and dragged her into a wooded lot. Once there he struck her in the face and attempted  to remove her clothing but the victim fought back and was able to escape. The suspect fled deeper into the wood lot while the victim contacted authorities. The victim was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

Due to the time and location of the incident, description of the suspect and the vehicle found at the location, investigators believe the incidents are connected.

“Please be aware of your surroundings,” said Sena Maddison, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. “Don’t ever leave your vehicle unlocked, even for just a moment, while you run into a store.”

Anyone with information on either incident or the suspect is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.