Cape police locate man wanted on battery charge
A man wanted for sexually battering a Cape Coral woman in her home Monday morning has been found, according to authorities.
Terrell Beckwith, 61, was located and arrested by the U.S. Marshal’s Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force Wednesday morning. Officers were searching a wooded area off of Burnt Store Road, north of Janis Road, when they came across Beckwith.
Beckwith was allegedly trying to conceal himself and his vehicle by making a hideout out of tree branches. He was taken into custody without incident.
Beckwith is accused of holding a woman at knifepoint and threatening her with a knife and gun, according to officials. Beckwith fled the home, located in the southwest Cape, when the woman’s husband returned unexpectedly.
He faces one count of sexual battery with a deadly weapon or great force, one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of false imprisonment, reported Connie Barron, a spokeswoman for the Cape police.
According to the victim and her husband, Beckwith had been staying at their home for about four months. They had a disagreement Sunday that picked up on Monday. Beckwith indicated that he would vacate the home, at which time the husband left for work.
The woman exited her bedroom later that morning, believing Beckwith was gone, officials reported. However, he was still present and he threatened the woman with the weapons. The husband returned home to check on his wife and discovered what was going on.
The husband reportedly found Beckwith standing over his wife with a gun pointed at her. He wrestled the firearm away from Beckwith and chased him out of the home.