Rondel McDonald, who was deemed an “extreme danger” to the community, is currently in custody without bond in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This decision was made by a Broward County prosecutor.
Sgt. Hector Martinez of the Fort Lauderdale department’s special victims unit expressed his desire to have apprehended him earlier, during a news conference.
Martinez said that as soon as it occurred, the units that were monitoring him were alerted. They quickly located him and apprehended him, successfully recovering the vehicle involved in the sexual battery.
At 5 p.m., the latest report came in.
The detectives in Broward County have recently released two sketches based on the descriptions provided by two victims. One sketch was released on Friday, and the other one on Saturday. In addition to the sketches, the detectives have also shared images of a car.
While walking along Northwest 12 Court near Second Avenue in Pompano Beach before 7 a.m. on August 29th, a 15-year-old girl had a terrifying encounter. She reported that a gunman threatened her and attempted to abduct her.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Sgt. Yanessa Ayra of the special victim’s unit at the Broward Sheriff’s Office praised the bravery of the individual, stating, “She exhibited tremendous courage and managed to escape.”
The victim had a conversation with Local 10 News on Wednesday.
“He told me to get in the car, but I refused, saying ‘No thank you’. However, he persisted in following me and then suddenly brandished a gun, making it impossible for me to ignore. It was an incredibly shocking experience to be walking to school and suddenly find myself confronted with a life-threatening situation. I had to make a split-second decision – should I run and risk getting shot, or should I comply and face the unknown consequences of getting into the car?”
Approximately an hour later, the police suspect that the same individual attempted a similar act with another victim.
On August 29th, around 8:20 a.m., a 17-year-old girl had a terrifying encounter in Fort Lauderdale. She reported that a gunman followed her and demanded that she get in his car near Southwest Fifth Place and 16 Avenue.
According to Martinez, the woman initially declined the request. However, the subject persisted and approached her once more, only to be met with another refusal.
Both Fort Lauderdale and BSO detectives identified the modus operandi.
During a news conference, Ayra emphasized that both agencies put in tremendous effort and worked tirelessly. “We did not hold back,” Ayra stated, highlighting their unwavering dedication. Their hard work and diligence were evident as they acknowledged the long hours they put in without rest.
According to Martinez, McDonald has been identified as a “likely” suspect.
Martinez explained that they were unable to meet the necessary legal requirements to make an arrest due to the lack of probable cause. However, he emphasized that they believed they were headed in the right direction. As the investigation progressed, another incident took place.
According to the police, a 15-year-old girl stated that she was walking to a friend’s house early Tuesday morning when she was approached by the gunman. Feeling threatened, she decided to comply and got into his car, which was located near Northwest Seventh Street and 14 Avenue.
McDonald was arrested on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale after detectives narrowed down a likely vehicle and followed him closely.
Martinez stated that the suspect was charged as soon as they had developed probable cause.
Ayra commended the bravery of the three teenage victims and their thorough and detailed reports.
Ayra mentioned that reporting the incident played a crucial role in preventing any future incidents or cases.
McDonald appeared before Broward County Circuit Judge Michele McCaul Ricca on Wednesday for a bond court hearing, wearing handcuffs.
According to county inmate and court records, McDonald was confronted with a total of 11 charges.
According to court records, there are eight charges involved in a capital life case that is currently pending with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Prosecutors officially filed the case on Wednesday, and it is being presided over by Broward County Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra.
The individual is facing serious charges, including four first-degree felonies. These charges consist of two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, along with the offenses of kidnapping with the intent to inflict bodily harm and false imprisonment of a child.
The first victim expressed how deeply hurt they were by the situation, emphasizing that their main motivation for reporting it was to protect others from experiencing the same pain.
The case pending trial includes four additional charges, all of which are classified as second-degree felonies. These charges are as follows: lewd or lascivious conduct, lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim aged 12 to 16, use or display of a firearm during a felony, and use or allowing a child to engage in sex.
According to inmate records, there was another case pending that involved three additional charges: the use or display of a firearm during a felony, kidnapping, and criminal attempt solicitation or conspiracy to commit a life felony.