A 50-year-old transient man is facing charges including attempted sexual battery after witnesses pulled him off a 29-year-old woman near a Starbucks on Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach Wednesday morning. Deputies say the man, identified as Michael Jackson, followed the woman in his vehicle before pushing her to the ground in a struggle that bystanders rushed in to stop.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, detectives assigned to its Homicide & Robbery Unit handled the arrest, which stemmed from multiple 911 calls deputies received at approximately 10:25 a.m. Wednesday. Deputies responded to the Starbucks at 4811 Gulf Boulevard, where the incident unfolded in broad daylight, as reported by IONTB.
Bystanders Step In During the Struggle
Detectives said Jackson exited a black Toyota pickup truck, pushed the woman to the ground and pulled down her pants in an attempt to sexually batter her, the outlet's report states. Multiple witnesses saw what was happening, intervened, and physically pulled Jackson off the woman before calling 911, according to the same account. Jackson then fled the scene in his vehicle.
Deputies located Jackson's vehicle shortly after the attack and took him into custody without further incident, per the report. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail on charges of attempted sexual battery, false imprisonment, and fleeing and eluding. The investigation was conducted by detectives assigned to the Homicide & Robbery Unit, the outlet notes.
Sheriff's Office Confirms Arrest Online
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office also confirmed the arrest in a social media post, writing that “Detectives assigned to the Homicide & Robbery Unit have arrested a transient man for Attempted Sexual Battery, False Imprisonment, and Fleeing & Eluding.” The agency's post pointed followers to its full release for further details. Beyond the charges themselves, specifics such as Jackson's bond status, upcoming court dates and booking details have not been released.
