A 20-year-old man is now in custody facing charges of sexual battery after a woman was reportedly attacked on the Seminole Wekiva Trail on Monday. Around 4 p.m., near the intersection of State Road 434 and Douglas Avenue, the attack unfolded when the 20-year-old, identified as Patrick Gamache, allegedly assaulted a female jogger. According to reporting from WFTV, in a 911 call, a witness described the woman being assaulted behind their work location, urgently requesting police and medical assistance.
While the police have arrested Gamache and charged him, users of the trail are reflecting on the incident with grave concern. "We run (the trail.) Every Tuesday and Thursday in a pack of about six to eight of us," local runner Robin Ware, who always tries to stay with somebody, stated, per ClickOrlando. Ware, surprised and saddened by the news, advocated that women who exercise alone might want to reconsider their habits to avoid becoming targets.
The Seminole County Sheriff's Office responded to the attack and subsequently offered a free Women's Safety and Awareness Class to the community—a measure of preparedness and prevention that may seem necessary in light of such events. Details on the class can be obtained by emailing the sheriff's office directly at [email protected], as reported by ClickOrlando.
