Woman escapes alleged rape attempt while on Gahanna walking trail
GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) – A man in police custody allegedly admitted his intention to rape a woman before she was able to escape Tuesday afternoon in Gahanna.
According to an incident report, the Gahanna Division of Police received a 911 call to request assistance for an alleged victim who was assaulted while walking along a path near James Road and Big Walnut Creek.
Multiple officers arrived and located a victim, who told police that a shirtless man wearing a ski mask pointed a gun at her and began to drag her into the woods. The victim reported that the man emerged from the woods and said, “come with me or I’ll shoot you.”
Gahanna PD said the woman ran away from the man, who chased her down, grabbed her from behind and her wrist. The victim said she offered the man her purse, an offer he rejected before dragging her towards a tree line by the path.
After the victim was able to fight him off and flee a second time, police located 27-year-old Johnathan Steele riding a bicycle on Price Road near the trail. Police said Steele was armed with a loaded CCY CPX-2 in a brown holster on his right hip.
During the arrest process, Steele, who is prohibited from carrying a firearm due to a domestic conviction in Virginia, reportedly confessed to having thoughts of wanting to commit rape and noticed the victim walking near Creekside Park before attacking her.
Police said comments Steele made included admissions that he intended of having sex with the victim and specifically mentioned “rape” and “it was me with the girl”.
Steele, who was also in possession of a backpack with a ski mask inside, was arrested and taken to Gahanna PD headquarters. He is charged with kidnapping, abduction, attempted felony and carrying a loaded weapon.