Sarasota man charged with raping 14-year-old boy in Bradenton apartment bathroom

MANATEE -- A 27-year-old man was charged with raping a 14-year-old boy after deputies caught the two in an apartment community bathroom early Sunday, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Omar Freitas-Velez told deputies he met the victim via Grinder, an online dating service. He said he left his work at Lowe's Home Improvement, 4012 14th St. W., one day about a month ago intending to have sex with the victim, even though he knew the victim's age. The two engaged in sexual activity in Freitas-Velez's car that night, he told deputies.

Early Sunday, Freitas-Velez said he picked the victim up in his car and they jumped the fence of the pool area of Mira Lagos Apartments, 358 34th Ave. E., Bradenton. The security guard saw them jump the fence and called law enforcement.

When deputies arrived, they saw a light on in the women's community restroom by the pool. They knocked on the door multiple times and after two minutes Freitas-Velez opened the door and deputies said they saw what looked like a child on a toilet that was "clearly unusable." The victim said he was trying to go to the bathroom.

Freitas-Velez said the two had been having sex in the bathroom prior to deputies' arrival, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies notified the victim's mother, who allowed law enforcement to interview the victim. The 14-year-old confirmed the two had met on Grinder and that Freitas-Velez was aware of his age.

The victim said they had sex and before deputies arrived the victim told Freitas-Velez, "I don't want to do this, stop. Maybe another day," and that he didn't like it, according to the report. He said Freitas-Velez ignored those statements and kept going until law enforcement arrived.

Freitas-Velez was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious activity on a victim between 12 and 16 years old and traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child. He is being held in the Manatee County jail on bonds totaling $65,025.

Anyone with information about this case can call the sheriff's office at 941-747-3011.

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Sarasota man charged with raping 14-year-old boy in Bradenton apartment bathroom ."