Report: Witness followed Jacksonville Beach sex battery suspect until police arrived

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — A Jacksonville Beach man is in jail after a woman told police he tried to sexually assault her on the beach.

The Jacksonville Beach Police Department report says a witness followed Antonio Dante Grant until police arrived and arrested him.

STORY: Jax Beach moves forward with midnight curfew for restaurants, cites public safety

The report says a woman went for a swim in the ocean early Thursday morning, not far from the Jacksonville Beach Pier, leaving her shorts on a wooden beach cross-over.

She told police that when she came back to get her shorts, a stranger pushed her to the ground, threw sand in her face and pulled down her underwear.

RELATED STORY: Survey shows 1 in 3 men don't think catcalling is sexual harassment

The police report says a witness heard the woman’s screams and came over.

The report says the witness followed Grant as he walked along the boardwalk for 11 blocks until police arrived.

“I think it’s heroic,” said beachgoer Ali Larosa. “It’s really good when people actually try to do something in a situation, not just after.”

Beachgoer David Martin said he’s sick of crime at the beaches.

“We’re supposed to be a small beach community, and everything’s supposed to be safe and everyone’s having a good time. But we’re finding more and more crime like that out here,” said Martin.

Grant has now been charged with sexual battery.

This is the 19th time Grant has been arrested in Duval County in the past four years.

The 37-year-old was also arrested on a sexual battery charge in Jacksonville Beach last year after a woman accused him of groping her and trying to pull down her pants.

The charge was eventually dropped.

RELATED STORY: Woman sues Jaxport and USSA with sexual harassment

Cox Media Group