PIERSON, Fla. – Volusia County deputies arrested a man they say was sexually assaulting a woman last weekend. They say they found out about the attack when she called 911 and pretended to order a pizza.
Luis Hernandez-Moncayo, 27, was arrested Saturday in Pierson. Deputies say they found him on the ground, on top of the woman and detained him.
The victim told deputies that she and Hernandez-Moncayo were friends and they were hanging out and having some drinks. She said Hernandez-Moncayo took some cocaine, which changed his behavior, according to deputies.
The victim felt something wrong was about to happen, so she called 911 and acted like she was ordering a pizza, officials said. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office says it’s a known tactic that can be used as a sign that someone is in distress.
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“911? There’s no pizza places close to 911. So as soon as he said do you know you called 911 and she says yes, the dispatcher knows something’s not right here,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
After the call, the victim said Hernandez-Moncayo grabbed her and tried to sexually assault her several times, twice trying to choke her.
“She says she fought him off multiple times, he choked her multiple times, there was a struggle there the entire time this was going on,” Chitwood said.
Hernandez-Moncayo told deputies the sexual encounter was consensual.
According to a sheriff’s office report, the woman declined to be taken to a hospital.
Hernandez-Moncayo faces charges of battery by strangulation, false imprisonment and attempted sexual battery. He was taken to the Volusia County Jail.
“If there’s a lesson to take from there it’s that, try to stay level-headed. If you’re able to make that call, make it and they will figure it out from there,” Chitwood said.
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