23-Year-Old Man Arrested For SOBE Christmas Rape

MIAMI BEACH, FL — A 23-year-old West Park, Florida man has been arrested in connection with the Christmas night rape of a woman along South Beach. Delmar Tifon O'Sullivan was charged with sexual battery, attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment on Sunday. The rape occurred around 10:30 p.m. on the beach.

Miami Beach police said O'Sullivan was arrested when he contacted the victim on social media and arranged to meet her. Miami Beach detectives took him into custody during a sting operation.

"The victim stated that she was walking north on the boardwalk between the 1500 block and the 2100 block when she was approached by the defendant" prior to the attack, according to court documents.

Miami Beach police said that O'Sullivan allegedly engaged the victim in casual conversation and began complimenting her hair.

"Shortly thereafter, the defendant allegedly began touching the victim all about her body and against her will," according to court documents. "The victim stated that she began to push the defendant's hands away multiple times and that she told him that she was feeling uncomfortable."

The victim told police that O'Sullivan tried to convince the victim to accompany him down to the ocean.

"The victim said 'no' and that she wanted to go home," court documents stated, noting that O'Sullivan tried to grab the woman's hands approximately five times but she pulled away each time.

The woman agreed to hug O'Sullivan "out of fear," which is when he allegedly groped her and lifted her skirt. He then allegedly carried the woman against her will to the shoreline and placed her on some beach chairs, where he digitally penetrated her.

"The victim's mother began calling her numerous times on her cell phone, which caused the defendant to eventually stop," according to court documents. "The victim explained that she was in complete fear of serious bodily harm, causing her not to run, scream, or fight. The defendant abducted the victim against her will without lawful authority."

Photo of Delmar Tifon O'Sullivan courtesy Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation