Crime & Safety
18-Year-Old Accused of Sexual Battery on Clearwater Beach
The New Port Richey man is charged with 'committing a sex act' on a 16-year-old girl Wednesday on the beach, police say.
Update: The alleged sexually battery occurred around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to officials. The incorrect time was listed in an earlier media release.
An 18-year-old New Port Richey man is accused of sexually battering a 16-year-old girl Wednesday afternoon on Clearwater Beach.
Clearwater Police say Joseph Michael Robert Hartzog met the girl on the beach while she was visiting with friends around 4:30 a.m. near the 300 block of Mandalay Avenue.
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The two walked around the beach getting to know each other, police say, and then Hartzog "made an unwanted advance on the victim and then committed a sex act on her."
The girl screamed for help and a passerby came to her aid, officials said. The suspect fled but was later found by investigators and arrested in Tarpon Springs after being identified by the alleged victim.
Find out what's happening in Clearwaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Hartzog is charged with one count of sexual battery.
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