Shocked in SW Ocala: Good Samaritan and woman, 74, thwart carjacker at SR 200/60th Ave.
A Good Samaritan and a 74-year-old woman thwarted an attempted carjacking on Tuesday at the Southwest 60th Avenue/State Road 200 traffic signal, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
The defendant, Normad Eliud Rosario-Otero, 51, was arrested on charges of attempted robbery, carjacking without a firearm or weapon and three counts of attempted burglary. Bail was set at $101,500.
The violent episode began with a burglary attempt
According to Marion County Sheriff's Detective Andrew Canterberry's report, deputies were called to SR 200 and Southwest 60th Avenue on Tuesday to investigate a suspicious person.
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Another detective interviewed a man who lives not far from the intersection. The man told the detective he was asleep in his residence when he heard a noise coming from outside.
He said when he went to his living room, he saw a man – later identified as Rosario-Otero – opening his sliding glass door and attempting to enter the home.
The man said he grabbed a broom and pushed the intruder outside. Rosario-Otero ran away. The man called 911 and followed Rosario-Otero as he left the scene.
The attempted carjacking
Once on Southwest 60th Avenue, Rosario-Otero entered a Ford SporTrac that was stopped at the traffic light at SR 200. The 74-year-old driver was waiting to turn west onto SR 200, according to the report.
The victim told deputies she saw Rosario-Otero trying to enter several vehicles that were stopped in front of hers. She locked her doors but had difficulty securing the passenger door. Rosario-Otero entered her vehicle through that door.
She said Rosario-Otero grabbed the steering wheel and reached one foot over, trying to press the gas pedal. The woman managed to keep her foot on the brake.
Rosario-Otero then tried to force the woman out of the vehicle, the report said. But by then a man had come up and removed Rosario-Otero from the Ford.
That man, whose name was not immediately provided, said Rosario-Otero had unsuccessfully tried to get into his vehicle before he targeted the woman.
Deputies said the woman's left forearm was bruised. Rosario-Otero was restrained with a belt until deputies arrived.
Rosario-Otero was taken to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, where he told a Spanish speaking deputy that he used drugs and pills and drank alcohol the day before the incident. He said he doesn't remember what happened.
He was arrested after the interview.
Marion County Jail records show Rosario-Otero has a warrant for failure to appear for no valid driver's license, no motor vehicle registration and attach unassigned tag to vehicle.
The sheriff's office seeks assistance
"MCSO Major Crimes detectives believe that there may be more victims due to the fact that witnesses observed Rosario-Otero attempting to enter multiple vehicles at the intersection of SW Highway 200 and SW 60th Avenue," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. "If you have any further information about this incident, please call Detective Andrew Canterberry at (352) 438-5932."
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Attempted carjacking thwarted in Ocala, Florida; suspect arrested
