Police said the woman contacted authorities while she and the suspect were still inside Serino Park in Margate.
MARGATE, FL — A 38-year-old man faces sexual battery and strangulation charges after police accused him of attacking a woman and sexually assaulting her for about six hours at a South Florida park.
Omar Boatwright of Margate was arrested July 24 following the reported attack at Serino Park, near Southwest Eighth Court and North State Road 7. He was being held without bond at the Broward County Main Jail as of Tuesday afternoon, according to published reports citing police and jail records. The allegations are contained in a Margate Police Department arrest report and have not been proven in court.
The woman told investigators that she had been sleeping on a bench near the park when Boatwright awakened her and asked her to have sex, according to the arrest report. She said she refused, but he continued pressing her and told her to walk with him toward the park.
Police said the woman tried to get away before any sexual contact occurred. Surveillance video reviewed by investigators appeared to show Boatwright chasing her and grabbing her from behind, according to the report. Authorities said he then struck her repeatedly in the head and face and applied pressure to her neck until she lost consciousness.
The woman told police that she regained consciousness in a grassy area while Boatwright was attempting to remove her clothing. She accused him of sexually assaulting her several times during a period of roughly six hours. The account came from the woman and the arrest report; no court has determined that the allegations are true.
Investigators said the woman managed to contact police while she and Boatwright were still at the park. Responding officers took him into custody. Police reported bruising around the woman’s eyes and red marks on her face and neck that they said were consistent with her account of being struck and strangled.
The woman was taken to a sexual assault treatment center for a forensic examination, according to the report. Investigators also collected clothing worn by the woman and Boatwright as evidence. Police described the woman as visibly shaken and emotionally distressed after officers arrived.
The two gave investigators conflicting accounts. The woman said she had never seen Boatwright before the encounter. Police said Boatwright claimed that he knew her and approached her over an alleged $200 debt. He acknowledged asking her for sex but said she agreed, according to the report. He denied striking her and could not explain her injuries, authorities said.
Boatwright was booked on charges described by authorities as sexual assault or sexual battery involving force and battery by strangulation. Publicly available reports did not identify an attorney representing him or provide a date for his next court proceeding. The criminal case remained pending Wednesday.
Author note: Last updated July 29, 2026.