A Leesburg man was arrested on a charge of sexual battery after allegedly forcing himself on a woman in her backyard.
Officers responded to a sexual battery, later found to involve 48-year-old Eduardo Diaz Velez, at an undisclosed Lake County residence around 12:40 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officers were waived down and directed to the female victim who was visibly upset and hyperventilating. She said she was raped by Velez. She gave his full name and physical description, including his facial tattooed face. The officers recognized Velez from multiple prior encounters with him, the report said.
The woman described the incident location as the backyard of her fenced-in residence by a water spigot near the overhang of her backdoor. Velez had been at the residence for about an hour prior to the incident. He stated he was thirsty, and it was agreed that he and the victim’s roommate were going to go to Circle K to get Polar Pops, the report said.
Due to believing Velez and her roommate were gone, the woman began to fix the water spigot in her backyard. She was crouching down doing so when her dog began barking. She was then startled by Velez since she thought he left to go to Circle K, the report said.
Velez approached the woman with one hand in his pants and stated, “You should have had a threesome with me and (undisclosed person) when you had the chance.” He made a comment about how she looked just like his girlfriend due to her not having her teeth in. He made a comment that he missed this person, and she looked just like her, the report said.
Velez then pushed the woman down. Due to her already being in a squatted position, she did not have good balance and got stuck between the wall and gate. He then pulled down his shorts, exposing his genitals, and ripped off her shorts, the report said.
Velez proceeded to sexually batter the victim for about a minute. She screamed the entire time and stated she was going to call the police. Due to this and her dog nipping at him, he ran from the location, the report said.
The woman was evaluated by EMS while officers searched the area for Velez. They were unable to find him at that time but learned he had an active warrant for petit theft.
Velez was ultimately arrested Thursday for sexual battery (victim over 18 – no injury). The native of Puerto Rico was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $20,000.