Arrest made in sexual attack that occurred Tuesday

A St Augustine woman reported to St Johns County deputies that she was sexually attacked by a 52-year-old man who she discovered inside her home upon her return from taking her school-aged children to their bus stop on Tuesday morning.

The victim stated that she returned to her apartment to find her attacker sitting on her sofa. During the incident, her assailant followed her into her bedroom; where it was alleged that he pushed her onto the bed and punched her in the mouth.

The man threatened the victim by allegedly brandishing a knife, before sexually assaulting her. A relative of the victim arrived at her apartment just as the attacker fled through the front door, on foot.

The victim was taken to Flagler Hospital where she was treated and released.

St Augustine Police located the man identified by witnesses as Randy Dewitt Gadson Sr., at his residence located at 101 Duero Street in St Augustine. Gadson was brought to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning.

After detectives evaluated the information obtained during the interview with Gadson, they placed him under arrest and charged him with sexual assault, a life felony; and battery, a first-degree misdemeanor.

He remains in custody after bond was set at $502,500 during his first appearance hearing this morning.