A suspect was charged with sexual batter of a minor in Central Florida.
Titusville Police Department recently responded to a reported sexual battery incident near the 3500 block of South Street Highway at 1:00am.
Patrol officers met with the reporting party to gather the necessary information. While searching for the suspect, it was learned that the suspect attempted to evade law enforcement by obtaining a ride sharing service.
Patrol officers were able to locate the ride sharing service and take the suspect into custody, positively identifying the suspect as Yamani Serrano, of Titusville, Florida.
Detectives responded and assumed the investigation, which revealed Serrano contacted the juvenile victim through social media, offering the juvenile victim nicotine products. This offer was to lure the juvenile victim to Serrano.
Once the juvenile victim met with Serrano in person, the juvenile victim was lured into some nearby woods in the 3500 Block of South Street. Once in the woods, Serrano took possession of the juvenile victim’s phone and instructed this victim to perform sexual acts on Serrano to have the phone returned. Serrano then destroyed the phone after the sex act.
The juvenile victim then ran away to the roadway and flagged down a passing motorist, who contacted law enforcement. Serrano attempted to flee the scene by ordering a ride sharing service. The ride sharing service Serrano contacted was the passing motorist the juvenile victim sought out assistance from.
According to law enforcement, Yamani Serrano was charged with one count of Sexual Battery, victim over 12 years of age by someone over 18 years of age, one count of Witness Tampering, and one count of theft.
Serrano was being held at the Brevard County Detention Center on a no bond status.
Based on this investigation, and other incidents investigated by Titusville Police Department, TPD believes there may be other victims from other crimes that have yet to come forward. TPD is urging anyone with information regarding Serrano, this crime, or other undocumented criminal acts to come forward.
“This individual poses a serious concern to public safety, and we believe there are additional victims who have not yet come forward. We urge anyone with information to contact us—your voice matters, and your courage can help prevent further harm,” said Detective Ashley Kube.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Line at 1-800-423-TIPS
