Orange Park man on pre-trial release arrested for attacking women near the UF campus

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Raymond John McConnell, 20, of Orange Park, was arrested early this morning and charged with robbery by sudden snatching and three counts of battery after allegedly attacking three women near the UF campus.

The three victims told a Gainesville Police Department officer that they were sitting on the curb in the 1800 block of NW 1st Avenue at about 2 a.m. on January 25, waiting for a ride home, when McConnell approached with three or four friends.

McConnell allegedly grabbed one of the women by her arm and pulled her to her feet. When a second woman told McConnell to leave the first woman alone, he allegedly spat in his hand and slapped the second woman “with great force.” McConnell allegedly punched and kicked the second woman and stomped on her head, neck, and upper body after she fell to the ground.

The first woman tried to intervene, and McConnell allegedly punched and kicked her and then stomped on her head and body after she fell to the ground.

McConnell allegedly stole the second woman’s Coach purse and her iPhone and then walked away backwards, laughing at the victim. The third woman ran to confront him and succeeded in retrieving the second woman’s purse, and McConnell allegedly pushed her; she said she did not know he had taken the second woman’s phone.

The phone was found a few blocks away, with a damaged screen.

The third woman was not injured, but the other two women had internal pain and numerous scratches and bruises.

A witness reportedly told the officer that she saw McConnell spit on his hand and slap the second woman in the face with the same hand; she said the first and second women were attacked by McConnell and he took the second woman’s purse and phone.

McConnell has been charged with robbery by sudden snatching and three counts of battery. Judge James Colaw signed a warrant for his arrest on January 29 and set bail at $65,000. McConnell has four misdemeanor convictions, and he is on pre-trial release for two more misdemeanor charges out of Duval County.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.