A 26-year-old homeless man was taken into custody on Friday following allegations of assaulting a woman and subsequently raping her at knifepoint near Lincoln Road on South Beach the previous day.
Authorities in Miami Beach reported that the incident occurred shortly after 7:30 AM on Thursday along Michigan Avenue, just north of 16th Street.
An arrest report reveals that the suspect, identified as Willie Amzi Rouse, along with another man, had been harassing a 45-year-old woman while she was walking on Lincoln Road.
Authorities reported that she lost track of the two individuals, but while navigating through a parking lot, she came across Rouse once more.
According to the police, Rouse allegedly pushed the victim to the ground, hit the victim’s upper lip with a closed fist, and moved the victim’s underwear to the side.
A woman picked up a knife from the ground and stabbed Rouse in the upper body, according to the report. However, he managed to disarm her and used the weapon against her, leading to a sexual assault.
Officials announced Rouse stood up and dashed west along 17th Street. Witnesses reported hearing a woman in distress and promptly contacted emergency services.
Authorities reported that the woman managed to collect two crucial pieces of evidence linking Rouse to the offense: She caught the suspect mentioning to another man that he hailed from North Carolina, and she noticed he was sporting a pair of camouflage Crocs.
Police in Miami Beach took Rouse into custody the following day for consuming alcohol in a public area. Authorities reported that they recognized him as matching the description in a lookout alert for the rape suspect.
Authorities reported that Rouse informed them he hailed from North Carolina and was spotted wearing camouflage Crocs during his arrest.
A detective later observed a cut on Rouse’s arm, which matched the victim’s description of potential injuries inflicted by her assailant during the sexual assault, according to the report.
Officials reported that Rouse chose not to communicate with investigators. He was taken into custody for armed sexual battery and misdemeanor battery, and his DNA was collected.
As of Monday morning, he remains in custody at the Metrowest Detention Center without bond.
Records from the jail and court indicate that Miami Beach police have arrested him for a charge of criminal mischief with prejudice in a separate incident.
Reference: Man accused of attacking, raping woman walking near Lincoln Road