Police arrest Dominick Hawkins for kidnapping and sexually assauting 5-year-old Bradenton Florida girl
The search is over for a man suspected of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in Bradenton.
On Wednesday, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Dominick Jerome Hawkins.
Hawkins, age 36, was arrested by police outside of the Resurrection House, a homeless center and will be charged with kidnapping and capital sexual battery, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities detailed how Hawkins approached the girl, who was playing outside with another child, about noon Monday at Wayside Glen Mobile Home Park. Hawkins promised the girl candy, luring her to India Bazaar, a nearby convenience store.
This was all captured on the store’s surveillance video showing the man buying the girl candy. In the video, the girl appears excited about receiving the treat.
“This is something that every parent has as a nightmare,” Manatee Sheriff Brad Steube said at a news conference.
Hawkins then took the girl to an unknown location, thought to a vacant mobile home, where the girl was held against her will, choked and sexually battered, deputies said.
The child managed to escape, run home and tell a family member, who alerted authorities, deputies said.
