A Marathon man is accused of raping a 33-year-old woman and holding her against her will inside his travel trailer, authorities said.
The victim told detectives she was sitting in front of a Kmart in Marathon around 2 p.m. Wednesday when 53-year-old Julio Melendez pulled up in a gold GMC pickup truck.
The victim told authorities she decided to go for a ride with Melendez and purchased cigarettes and alcohol before getting into his travel trailer, where they had consensual sex.
Authorities said the victim eventually became unwilling to continue having sex with Melendez and told him to stop. He allegedly failed to stop, raping the woman.
The victim said Melendez held her in his trailer against her will for about 13 hours.
She said they eventually left in his truck and drove to the shopping center parking lot at 55th Street in Marathon.
There, authorities say Melendez sideswiped a vehicle in the parking lot. The owner of that vehicle allegedly saw the victim inside the truck, yelling for help.
According to authorities, the witness intervened and told the victim to get into his vehicle.
Melendez then sped off in his truck as the witness told a bartender in the Brass Monkey lounge about what happened, Herrin said.
Herrin said a sergeant recognized the description of the suspect and his vehicle from previous law enforcement encounters.
The victim also identified the suspect in a photo line-up.
Melendez was arrested Thursday on a warrant and was booked into jail on charges of sexual battery.
He is being held on a $150,000 bond.