JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 16-year-old broke into a woman's home and sexually battered her when she returned home Friday morning, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Police said the woman arrived at her home in the area of North Edgewood and Commonwealth avenues in Northwest Jacksonville about 9:40 a.m., went in the front door and walked to her bedroom.
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Police said Marlon Melendez was standing at the side of the woman's bed and grabbed her and put her in a choke hold from behind.
Melendez punched the woman in the head and committed a sexual battery, police said. They said he then fled the home after taking a white tank top shirt and cellphone from the woman.
The woman was able to climb out of a bedroom window and run next door to a neighbor's home to get help and call police.
A description of the suspect was immediately broadcast to officers, and while en route to the call, an officer saw a person matching the description of the suspect running down a nearby road. Melendez was detained by police, who said the woman positively identified him as her attacker.
Police said Melendez had been reported as missing.
He was arrested and charged with sexual battery and burglary.