MARGATE, Fla. — A 38-year-old man was arrested last week after he raped a woman for hours at a park in Margate, authorities said.
According to an arrest report from the Margate Police Department, the alleged crime happened Friday at Serino Park, located at 5600 SW Eighth Court.
Police said the victim was sleeping on a bench off Southwest Eighth Court and North State Road 7 when she was awakened by a man, later identified as Omar Boatwright, of Margate, who asked her for sex.
The victim told police that she refused, but he kept insisting and told her to accompany him to the nearby park.
According to the report, the victim began walking with Boatwright, but attempted to flee before any sexual contact occurred.
The report states that surveillance video shows Boatwright chasing after the victim and then grabbing her from behind.
According to the report, the victim began screaming and tried to hit Boatwright, but she missed.
He then repeatedly punched her in the head and face and choked her until she lost consciousness, authorities said.
Police said the victim regained consciousness as she was lying in a grassy area of the park as Boatwright was trying to remove her pants.
She told police that he then raped her about four times over the course of about six hours.
According to the report, the victim was able to contact police as she and Boatwright were still at the park, and he was taken into custody.
Police said the victim had bruising to her eyes and red markings to her face and neck area, consistent with her account of being struck and choked.
According to the report, the victim “appeared visibly shaken, nervous and emotionally distressed.”
She was transported to the Sexual Assault Treatment Center where a forensic examination was conducted.
Clothing worn by both the victim and Boatwright were collected for evidence, the report stated.
According to the report, the victim told police that she had never seen Boatwright prior to this encounter, but Boatwright claimed that he knew the victim and had approached her because she owed him about $200.
Police said Boatwright claimed that he had asked the woman for sex and she agreed. He denied striking her, but couldn’t explain how she sustained her injuries, authorities said.
Boatwright was arrested on charges of sexual assault/sexual battery with a weapon or force and battery by strangulation.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Boatwright was being held at the Broward County Main Jail without bond.
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