Crime & Safety

Man Arrested in Attack on Natures Way Joggers

Frank Emmanuel Zuniga was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. and charged with false imprisonment.

Just five hours after an 18-year-old Bloomingdale East resident reported that she'd been attacked while jogging on Natures Way, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced it had made an arrest.

And, according to sheriff's spokesman Larry McKinnon, this might not be the suspect's first offense.

Sheriff's deputies arrested 27-year-old Frank Emmanuel Zuniga of Valrico and charged him with false imprisonment after a woman reported that, while she and a friend were jogging on Natures Way near Elba Place Thursday, May 23 at 10:32 a.m., a man jumped out of bushes nearby and grabbed her arm.

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The jogger reported that she and her 18-year-old friend noticed a suspicious white pickup truck circling the area with the driver watching them so they were already on alert when the attack occurred.

When the man grabbed her arm, the jogger said she screamed and was able to pull out of his grasp. 

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"That startled him. He appeared very disoriented at that point, got back into his truck and then drove away," said McKinnon. The victim promptly called 911 to report the crime.

Neither jogger was injured, said McKinnon.

Using the women's description of the man and the pickup truck, sheriff's deputies launched a massive search in the area leading to Zuniga's arrest.

McKinnon said Zuniga may be responsible for another attack May 11 on Natures Way near the Bloomingdale East Park. In that case, a woman was jogging when a suspect grabbed her buttocks.

"This individual has a history," said McKinnon. "There's some juvenile cases that we're looking at of a similar nature." He also has a 2009 arrest for burglary.

McKinnon said Zuniga has some diminished mental capacity but "we feel since he has a driver's license and has a job, he's obvious capable so we're going to charge him."

Zuniga has been charged with felony false imprisonment and misdemeanor battery. 

McKinnon said the sheriff's office is also asking the public to report if they believe Zuniga was involved in any other attacks. 

"There may be other victims in this area that may not have come forward," said McKinnon.

Anyone with information should call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.


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