Man accused of burglary, rape arrested in Lake City

Lake City Police Department booking photo of Ralph Willis

LAKE CITY, Fla. – A Lake City man accused of breaking into a residence and raping a female victim was found hiding inside a nearby residence and was arrested early Sunday morning.

Ralph Willis, 49, was charged with false imprisonment, sexual assault, burglary, trespassing and obstructing justice.

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The Lake City Police Department said officers responded to an address on St. Johns Street around 4:58 a.m. Sunday after a report of a burglary in progress. The officers found the homeowner, who told them the suspect broke into her house, raped her and afterward kept her from calling 911 to report it, police said.

The victim pointed to another house down the street where the suspect had run, and officers surrounded the house, which belongs to Willis' daughter, and found Willis inside, police said.

Willis was detained and after an investigation was arrested and booked into the Columbia County Detention Center on a $171,000 bond.


About the Author:

A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union.