Zephyrhills, Florida – A search continued late into Friday night for the man who attempted to sexually assault an 80-year-old woman during a home burglary.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the woman was gardening at her home along 23rd Street when she noticed a young, clean-shaven black man walking down the street. She told police that he was in his late teens or early 20s, about 6 feet tall, and weighing 140 to 150 pounds. The suspect was wearing camouflage pants, bright-colored shirt and white sneakers.
After going inside her home, the woman received a knock on the door from the same man asking to borrow a lawnmower. She declined and closed the door.
About 20 minutes later, she heard a second knock on the door and cracked it open to find the same man asking to use her restroom.
It was during the second encounter that the man forced his way into the house.
"She's fighting him off (and) the suspect did try to sexually assault her," said Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco. "The victim who is courageous had the extension of a vacuum cleaner and started beating him with it and she fought him off."
She told deputies that the man grabbed the Bissell vacuum cleaner and ran off, and deputies have been searching for him since.
"We're going to be tracking this person and hunting them down," Nocco said.
During the search, the sheriff's office sent out a reverse emergency notification system to the homes in the area of the search zone.
"She did a heroic job. Now it's our job to go out there an arrest this individual and bring him to justice."
Anyone with information on the suspect's whereabouts is urged to call 911, (727) 847-8102 or 1-800-854-2862.
