Naked man arrested after stabbing 81-year-old man and holding child in chokehold

A 27-year-old man was arrested in Florida after putting a 7-year-old girl in a chokehold and stabbing an 81-year-old man.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested Yoan Gonzalez Vazquez on September 29 after reports that a naked man jumped over the backyard fence of a Tampa home and put a young girl who was playing on a trampoline in a chokehold.

Police said the girl was rescued by her mother and neighbors and Vazquez fled the scene on foot.

Upon arrival, officers found Vazquez hiding under a covered porch and arrested him.

Investigators learned that after escaping the first apartment, the suspect entered another apartment and allegedly stabbed an 81-year-old man, who was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries.

“I cannot imagine the terror this mother must have felt as she watched a violent man take her child in his hands,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister.

“The courage shown by her and the neighbors who intervened to save this girl is heroic.

“This person's evil actions were directed against both a child and an elderly person and showed disregard for human life,” Chronister said.

“Thanks to the quick response of our deputies, this man will face the consequences of his actions and pay for the harm and trauma he caused these families.”

Newsweek has emailed the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office outside of regular working hours for additional comment and information.

Vazquez faces multiple charges, including two counts of burglary causing bodily harm and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

He was taken to Tampa General Hospital for evaluation and then booked into Orient Road Jail.

Police said additional charges may be filed and the investigation is ongoing.

In an unrelated incident last month, a Florida man recorded his 75th arrest in his nearly four-decade criminal career.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested 57-year-old Mark Brents and booked him into the Orient Road Jail – his 75th arrest since 1985 – for defrauding more than $4,500 in merchandise in 10 separate incidents.

An investigation launched in August uncovered a barcode tampering scheme that targeted Lowe's stores in Hillsborough County and Clearwater, police said at the time. Brents' fraudulent activities consisted of replacing barcodes on more expensive goods with labels on cheaper items, allowing him to purchase products for less than the intended retail price.

Charges against Brents, who also served 11 times in prison, included organized fraud, retail theft and petit larceny.

Do you have a story we should cover? Do you have any questions about this article? Do you have questions about crime in your state? Contact [email protected]