Police say a man sexually battered a woman inside a Sarasota mall.
Sarasota Police Department detectives said the attack happened at 10 a.m. Wednesday inside the Westfield Siesta Key Mall located at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail.
Officers responded to the mall after the victim reported to the sexual battery to mall security. The victim told police she knows the suspect.
The victim told officers she was at the mall sitting on the ground in the hallway across from the family restroom, charging her iPad, when Jamal Abrams, 22, arrived unexpectedly.
Detectives said Abrams sat next to the victim on the ground, grabbed her neck and forced her to kiss him. The victim pushed Abrams away and told him to stop.
Abrams then grabbed the victim’s backpack and iPad and took them into the family restroom. Abrams tried to lure the victim into the restroom to retrieve her items.
The victim stood by the door to the restroom, but did not enter.
The victim told police she sat back down on the ground and Abrams grabbed her and forcibly dragged her into the restroom against her will where he sexually assaulted her. She was eventually able to leave the restroom and alert a security guard to report the attack.
Abrams was identified by the victim in the hallway after officers arrived.
Sarasota police said this was not a random attack and the victim and Abrams know one another.
Abrams was arrested and charged with one count of sexual battery. He was transported to the Sarasota County Jail.
Police praised the victim for reporting the incident quickly.
“I’m happy the victim was able to get away and notify security,” said Captain Johnathan Todd, Commander of the Sarasota Police Department Criminal Investigations Division. “The quicker we know about a case, the quicker we can begin our investigation and solve it.”
The Sarasota Police Department said it takes every instance of sexual violence seriously. Officers encourage anyone to call and report this type of activity without hesitation.
