Arrest Made in Child Rape Case

Updated:

Detectives have made an arrest in the abduction and rape of a 5-year-old Bradenton girl, authorities said Wednesday.

Dominick Jerome Hawkins, 36, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and capital sexual battery, the Bradenton Herald reports.

Hawkins was picked up for questioning by the Sarasota Police Department in the area of the 500 block of Kumquat Court, Sarasota, on Wednesday afternoon, according to a report.

"I cannot tell you how happy we are to have this individual in custody," Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube told the Herald. "This is something every parent has as a nightmare. We are very grateful."

The girl was assaulted near a Bradenton mobile home park Monday afternoon, according to the sheriff's office. She was reportedly playing with another child around 1 p.m. Monday near the Aloha Estates Mobile Home Park, 5310 14th St. W., when she was approached by the man, who lured her to a store and then a vacant mobile home, detectives said.

There, the girl was held against her will, choked and sexually battered, the sheriff's office said.

The girl managed to escape, run home and tell a family member about the attack.

Officials also released another YouTube video of security footage showing the man and the victim inside a store.