OKEECHOBEE — On Saturday, Oct. 25, Cecil Vandiver Jr. was arrested and charged with charged with sexual battery on a person 18 years or older by a person 18 years or older and false imprisonment of person and burglary with assault or battery.

At approximately 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, OCSO Deputy Grumbling responded to the Raulerson Hospital Emergency room in reference to a sexual battery. Upon arrival the deputy made contact with the 47-year-old female victim.

The victim stated that the place she was staying at did not have electricity and the doors were open to allow air to circulate from the outside. She stated that at around 8 p.m. the previous night, Wednesday, Oct. 22, a white male subject that she positively identified as Cecil Vandiver Jr. entered the residence and demanded that she perform oral sex on him. When she refused, the victim advised that Vandiver forced her to the ground, removed her pants and began engaging in sex with her on a blue sheet that was on the floor.

The victim also stated that Vandiver was forcefully choking her with both hands and attempted to cover her mouth to keep her from screaming. She explained that when she did try to cry out that she was unable to because of her breathing being restricted.

The deputy asked the victim if she attempted to call law enforcement after the incident occurred and she advised that she did not have a phone and that after the incident she felt overheated, so she went to the bathroom and laid in water to cool off. Afterwards, she said she passed out on the sofa. According to the arrest affidavit another individual called OCFR out of concern for the victim because the victim had not eaten or left the house.

When asked if she had any romantic involvement with Vandiver before the incident the victim stated that she did not and only knew him through passing acquaintance. She stated that he would often hang out behind the closed Brewskis, which is close to her residence, and that he would always just show up. The victim also stated that he would often make remarks to her and call her a lesbian when she would turn him down.

The deputy observed bruising and redness around the victim’s and jawline consistent with the statement provided.

OCSO Detective Rojas and victim’s rights advocate were notified and spoke with the victim at Raulerson Hospital to confirm her statement and provide her with a victim’s rights pamphlet. A sexual assault kit was completed by hospital staff and given to deputies as evidence and photos of the victim’s injuries were submitted as evidence as well.

It was noted in the affidavit that the victim remained consistent in her account with little to no deviation.

The two deputies and Crime Scene Tech Marcinek then responded to the location in which the victim reported that the incident took place. They were unable to obtain any video footage of the area, however, Marcinek was able to identify several areas of possible semen excretion in the area that the victim advised the rape took place. A field test was conducted on the evidence and it tested positive for semen. The area was photographed and the photographs were submitted into evidence along with the positive field test, clothing and the blue sheet collected from the area.

Based on the statement provided by the victim and the evidence collected a BOLO {Be on the lookout} was issued for Cecil Vandiver Jr.

Vandiver was located and arrested on Saturday, Oct. 25, and charged with sexual battery on a person 18 years or older by a person 18 years or older and false imprisonment of person. He was also charged with burglary with assault or battery for a different case he is believed to be involved in.

Bond was set at $120,000.