TAMPA, Fla. — Detectives from Tampa Police say they arrested the man who violently attacked a woman walking to work.
According to police, the woman was walking in the 5100 block N. Nebraska Avenue on Thursday morning when the attack happened.
Police said the woman in her 60s noticed she was being followed by a dark-colored 2008-2012 Honda Accord and became worried for her safety. The suspect approached her and tried to proposition her.
The victim told the suspect to leave her alone and she tried to run to a nearby business for help but tripped and fell.
The suspect caught up to her and began kicking and punching the woman as she laid on the ground.
Detectives say it was 55-year-old Antonio Whitehead who attacked the woman.
Late Friday night, detectives received a tip through Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay that the suspect was at the Salvation Army located at 1514 N. Florida Ave. Officers located a car matching the description of the suspect's vehicle in the parking lot and saw Whitehead enter the building.
Officers arrested Whitehead into custody without incident.
Whitehead was transported to Orient Road Jail and charged with aggravated battery on a victim 65 or older. He was also charged with violation of probation.
He then took off in his Honda.
The incident was captured on video. Due to the nature of the attack, we have chosen to only show stills from the video.
The woman suffered head and upper body trauma. She remains in the hospital with serious injuries and multiple lacerations. Tampa Police said she is also being monitored for possible cardiac injury stemming from a bruised heart as a result of the assault.
The suspect is described as a black male, possibly in his 30's, approximately six feet tall and 200 pounds. He was wearing a tight black polo shirt, tan shorts and boots.
Tampa Police Detectives are asking anyone in the community, who want to remain anonymous but may have information that could help lead to the identification and apprehension of this suspect, to contact Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-TIPS.
