A 26-year-old Miami man, Diontae Blackman, was arrested yesterday for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman in her downtown Miami apartment back in August. The arrest was made after DNA evidence linked him to the crime which occurred at the Downtown 5th apartment building. Blackman is facing charges of armed kidnapping, armed sexual battery, and burglary with assault or battery, reported Local 10.
The incident in question unfolded on the evening of Aug. 26, approximately five minutes after the victim's roommates had left their apartment, Blackman, who had allegedly entered the residence uninvited, confronted the woman who was sitting on her balcony and threatened her with a broken glass bottle, Blackman, a stranger to the victim, then forced her into her bedroom where the sexual assault took place, reported WSVN. Following the attack, the woman contacted her roommates who, upon returning, encountered Blackman but were unable to prevent his escape.
This recent case bears stark similarities to a previous crime committed by Blackman in 2021 in the Brickell area where he followed a woman into her apartment building, assaulted her, and attempted rape, but she was able to fight him off; for this, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison and was on probation at the time of the current allegations, as per court records cited by NBC Miami.
Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer ordered Blackman to be held without bond and noted the DNA evidence linking him to the recent downtown Miami incident, stating, "So he had a broken glass bottle and he's gesturing that he's gonna slit her throat," Glazer said, explaining the events; he is also currently detained on a probation violation stemming from the 2021 Brickell case which displayed the lamentable continuity in a pattern of violence perpetuated by the accused, as was underscored during his court appearance, according to NBC Miami.
Authorities have stressed that the investigation is ongoing, and Blackman has invoked his right to remain silent following his arrest at his apartment located off Northwest 14th Avenue in Miami-Dade’s unincorporated Pinewood area, as detailed by law enforcement officials. The victim received treatment at the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center soon after the incident took place, and the case remains pending further judicial proceedings.
