Cantonment Gas Station Carjacking, Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested

October 23, 2014

[UPDATED 9:30 a.m.] A Cantonment man has been arrested in connection with the carjacking of a woman at a Cantonment gas station last month and an attempted sexual assault a short time later.

Eddie Lee Atkins, age 27 of 622 Muscogee Road, has been charged with attempted sexual assault with force and carjacking without a firearm or weapon, a first degree felony. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond Thursday morning.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said DNA evidence from both cases and the “tireless work” of sex crimes investigators led to the arrest.

At approximately 8:15 a.m. on September 18, a carjacking was reported at the Raceway gas station at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road. The victim had pumped gasoline and entered the store when Atkins allegedly entered her unlocked vehicle and concealed himself in the backseat. The victim did not see Atkinst and drove away from the store with him in the vehicle.

Atkins reportedly 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. Atkins then struck her and pushed her from the vehicle, according to investigators.

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

A little more than 15 minutes later, the attempted sexual battery of a female jogger was reported 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 awooded area. Once there he struck her in the face and attempted to remove her clothing but the victim fought back and was able to escape.

Pictured below: A composite sketch of a carjacking and attempted sexual assault suspect released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the crime.

Comments

12 Responses to “Cantonment Gas Station Carjacking, Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested”

  1. december morning on October 24th, 2014 12:56 pm

    Great job ECSO! Another predator off the streets so he can’t hurt somebody else.

  2. melodies4us on October 23rd, 2014 10:09 pm

    I am so glad this monster is locked away. I pray for justice, to keep us safe. Sadly, you cannot rehabilitate these. Just recently in California a rapist was sentenced to life without parole.

  3. No Excuses on October 23rd, 2014 6:01 pm

    @worried:

    I think Tom was being sarcastic when he made the comment about a bad childhood.

  4. Jasmine on October 23rd, 2014 5:39 pm

    The composite sketch looks NOTHING like that man.

  5. worried on October 23rd, 2014 12:17 pm

    It doesn’t matter if he had a bad childhood. He is an adult and knows right from wrong. What he did was terrify 2 women and got caught. He needs the book thrown at him by a judge who won’t just slap his hands and say bad boy.

  6. David Huie Green on October 23rd, 2014 11:37 am

    DNA is better than eye-witnesses and even the best sketch artists.

    David for justice

  7. Bob C. on October 23rd, 2014 11:33 am

    To the victims in this case…you did a Very Good job with the sketch artist and have surely helped assist in his arrest. Congratulations to you and my great Respect for being able to have such good recall under such a tough situation.

    LEO, Thanks to your devotion to this case and the use of DNA to make an identification and in getting this thing off the streets and locked up where it belongs.

    Hopefully, the jury and judge will do their jobs in an unbiased hearing on the merits of the case and determining a valid life sentence for the accused.

  8. mary on October 23rd, 2014 11:07 am

    YES! He was pretty daring hunting so close to home, he would’ve tried again. Thank you for getting him off the streets.

  9. dman on October 23rd, 2014 11:00 am

    Great job ECSO! Glad this sorry scum bag is behind bars. Now let’s see if the judge does the right thing by locking his sorry butt away for a long, long time.

  10. Tom on October 23rd, 2014 10:45 am

    But all of this is not his fault, after all he had a bad childhood. Hope he stays in jail for about 50 years, damn hoodlum

  11. mick on October 23rd, 2014 9:46 am

    When found guilty, sentence him to no less than 50 years

  12. so glad on October 23rd, 2014 9:44 am

    Thank you!!!!! Great Job!!!! He is very dangerous he’s right where belongs.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News