Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Peter Fossett, 36, of Bradenton, Aug. 24. He is accused of kidnapping, sexual battery and aggravated assault on Aug. 21.
Fossett and his girlfriend allegedly drove to the beach Aug. 21, parked their car at the Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach and left their vehicle.
According to HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer, a police officer saw two vehicles at the Manatee Public Beach after the beach had closed. The officer ran the license plates through a database and went to find the owners. When the officer returned to the parking area, one of the cars had left.
“My guy never saw or met Fossett,” said Tokajer. “He left the island before we had a chance to talk to him.”
The couple left Holmes Beach, but the woman soon pulled into a parking lot, where Fossett allegedly poured water on the woman’s head and demanded she exit the car. According to the woman, when she complied, Fossett beat her on the head, neck and face.
The report said Fossett forced the woman into the car and he took over driving. He then forced the woman to sit on his lap to have intercourse with him as he drove.
The woman said she feared another beating and gave into his demands. Fossett continued to threaten her, saying he had killed two men and he would feed her to alligators in Myakka.
Fossett later drove to an undisclosed location and demanded oral sex from the woman. She said her facial and head injuries were too severe to comply and Fossett again demanded intercourse.
The report stated that Fossett then drove to State Road 70 and left the vehicle on foot.
After the woman contacted law enforcement, she was taken to Venice Regional Bayfront Health in Venice. She suffered a broken eye socket, a broken bone in her neck and blackened eyes, among other injuries.
Fossett’s first day in court was Aug. 25.
He is registered as a sex offender in Ohio, but failed to register in Florida when he moved to the state two months ago, according to the sheriff’s report.
Fossett was being held in the county jail with a $300,000 bond as of Aug. 31.