By Danica Spears
PJC police arrested a man late April 24 they think sexually assaulted a PJC female student April 22 in the women’s restroom of Building 1 on the Pensacola campus.
Jaworski Lee Simmons, 28, was arrested by Escambia County deputies after several female students, including the victim, identified him as the man who approached them on April 22. Further investigation by PJC Investigator Lisa VanNatter and other PJC officers, as well as the Pensacola Police Department led to the arrest.
Quick resolution of the case was a direct result of the efforts of the campus community coming forward and their willingness to assist, along with the cooperation of members of the local law enforcement community, according to a press release from the PJC Police Department.
Simmons is in the Escambia County Jail with a $425,000 bond, charged with sexual battery, kidnapping, and battery.
PJC Chief of Police Nancy Newland recounted the activity that led to the capture: “We immediately took control of the victim, had someone stay with her at all times, blocked off the crime scene, conducted crime scene photography, latent fingerprint examinations, hospital testing, interviews of witnesses and victim, information gathering, photo line-ups, intelligence sharing with other agencies, submission of evidence to appropriate authorities.”
After initial text message alerts describing the suspect as “Black Male, Corn Rowed Hair White T-shirt” were sent, PJC police responded to at least two sitings and brought the suspects for questioning.
Their photos were placed in a photo line-up, along with some other PJC police and Pensacola police photos, for the victim to identify. The 18-year-old victim identified another photo that she said resembled the alleged attacker, according to Dr. Gael Frazer, vice president for institutional diversity and media relations.
After the incident occurred, other females came forward with information that a male who fit the assailant’s description was asking them inappropriate questions.
“Their information has been of great help to the investigation,” Newland said.
The recent incident wasn’t the first time a sexual assault occurred on campus. Nearly 20 years ago, a GPAC swimmer was sexually molested on the Pensacola campus.
Newland said the victim “is a strong girl and will do well. She has a strong support system.” Newland wants people to realize it could have been anyone that could have been assaulted.