Man Tried To Rape Woman Behind St. Pete Business: Deputies

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has announced an arrest in a violent attack that occurred behind a St. Petersburg business in late March. According to the agency, detectives charged an inmate already in the county’s jail in connection with the crime on Thursday.

The aggravated battery and attempted sexual battery case against Joseph Simpson, 39, began to unfold on March 30. Deputies say a 50-year-old woman was attacked by a man behind a business in the 6700 block of 46th Avenue North. The woman, who is not being identified, suffered serious injuries in the attack.

The victim reported the attack to authorities on April 10, kicking off the investigation, a Friday email from the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies pulled surveillance videos from the area of the attack that captured a man at the scene, the email said. The suspect was then identified as Simpson, deputies say.

Detectives interviewed Simpson about the attack on April 13. The agency’s email said he admitted to the allegations.

Simpson was already in jail on burglary and grand theft auto charges, the agency noted.

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Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office