ARLINGTON, TN (abc24.com) - The man accused of attacking a woman in Arlington during her morning jog could soon come home and neighbors are nervous.
St. Ronald Jean-Charles was arrested Monday, Dec. 19, after Shelby County Sheriff's deputies say he attacked a 50-year-old woman while she was jogging. The jogger fought the attacker and ran to the nearest home; that homeowner is afraid of Jean-Charles coming home.
The neighbor showed abc24.com a footprint in her grass and describes the fight right outside her door, "The torn up grass, the scuffle was here and then she ran to my door."
She's said afraid for her safety, "I'm a single mom. I have a young child at home and it's very scary."
That morning, she woke up to screams coming from her normally quiet neighborhood. "There was pounding on my door." She describes, "the doorbell rang constantly. This horrible screaming and crying for help." She breaks down into tears saying, "I'm so sorry, it is so terrifying." She said she didn't know whether she should open the door. "The fear in her face and her voice, she was like help me, help me, please help me."
The neighbor pulled the jogger inside her home and set the alarm. "I asked her what happened, what's going on? She was frantic. She had her hands in her face, she said, 'I was out for my morning run and this big man just attacked me.'"
According to deputies, the man knocked her to the grass, grabbed her by the feet and covered her mouth to silence the screams. The woman broke free. Now everyone in the neighborhood is fearful because his home is just a street away.
The scary morning she went through is nothing compared to the fear that lies ahead. "He most likely knows who I am, that helped her, where I live, who she is and where she lives," she said. "She and I are very fearful for him being back out on the streets."
Jean-Charles's bail is set at $30,000. He's charged with attempted kidnapping and assault.
