ORLANDO, Fla. – A 26-year-old man was arrested after a woman was attacked while jogging early Thursday near College Park, Orlando Police said.
Around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to a 911 call regarding a female jogger who had been attacked in the 1800 block of Northumberland Avenue near Florinda Drive. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victim, who reported being assaulted while jogging in the College Park area.
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According to police, the suspect — later identified as Tyler Feight —approached the victim and struck her in the upper body, causing her to fall to the ground. As Feight attempted to further overpower her, the victim resisted by screaming and kicking, successfully causing him to run away. The victim sustained minor injuries but was able to return home and call 911.
Later that morning, a resident spotted an individual matching the suspect’s description—previously shared by the victim via social media—sleeping in a nearby grassy area. The suspect was detained, and the victim positively identified Feight as the person who attacked her, a news release stated.
For the past two months, police said that Feight had been sleeping outside in the woods near the area after being released from jail. He had previously been incarcerated for battery on a different female.
Feight is now facing charges of attempted sexual battery and battery.
News 6 was able to make contact with a family member of Feight. She did not want to appear on camera but she did want to share that Feight has struggled with mental health issues in the past.
She said Feight’s relationship with the family has soured over the years, and he has been in and out of mental health facilities.
A neighbor told News 6 she recognized Feight’s mug shot because she had seem him roaming the area before.
“I had known that he was wandering the area,” said Sydney Jamieson. “But it’s been months since I’ve encountered him.”
Jamieson praised the victim’s presence of mind.
“It’s like fight or flight mode,” she said.
A short drive away Thursday, Miguel De Aza was just about to start teaching his 6:30 p.m. jiu-jitsu class.
“I’m actually curious if she has some training in jiu-jitsu because she did the exact right thing,” De Aza, the owner of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in College Park, said.
De Aza said he was impressed with how the victim comported herself in such a precarious situation.
“You want to create awareness,” he explained. “So sound the alarm, scream. When she fell, she was able to bring her feet into the situation.”
De Aza told News 6 that after hearing about what she endured, he is inclined to offer her free classes at his studio.
