Man arrested after alleged attack on elderly woman

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police have arrested man who allegedly terrorized a 91-year-old woman in the middle of the night.

Police said the suspect, 21-year-old Ryan Pearl, was already on probation for armed robbery, and according to police he did not waste any time to strike again. Police said he targeted the home of an elderly woman. The man sneaked into her home on Aug. 24, burglarizing her bedroom while she slept nearby.

"He could've gone on route to go fishing and saw this lady all alone," said neighbor Joe Roman. "He saw her as an easy target and just went in her house and ransacked her, and she fought for her life."

Once in her room, the elderly woman woke up when she heard him screaming, that is when, according to police, he attacked her but she scratched his face managing to get his DNA.

"You don't expect to be attacked by some unruly man who is so much larger than you," said Fort Lauderdale police spokesperson Deanna Garcia. "She suffered loss of vision in one of her eyes, she has scratches and bruising throughout her legs from kicking and fighting him off of her. It's something I would never want anyone to have to experience. It's awful."

Although the woman fought for her life, the man ran out but could not escape for long. Since the woman was able to get his DNA, police caught up with him and arrested him on Friday. They charged him with battery on an elderly woman and burglary.

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