Gulf Breeze man arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and battery

A Gulf Breeze man was arrested after a woman accused him of sexual assault and of hitting her in the face during an argument.

Timothy Whaley, 51, was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual assault and battery causing bodily harm. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with a $75,000 bond, and county records state he remained in custody as of Friday.

According to his arrest report, an Escambia County Sheriff's Office deputy responded Aug. 9 to a report of a disturbance at a home. A woman told the deputy that Whaley had raped her earlier that day and later hit her in the face during an argument.

When the deputy asked the woman why she had not contacted law enforcement immediately following the assault, she replied "that she was fearful and stated that she did not know what to do."

She said she was in bed with Whaley when he forced himself on her, despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. The woman said Whaley also hit her in the face during an argument, and the deputy observed a “medium-sized laceration that appeared deep in nature” on the inside of the woman’s lip. The deputy later noted in his report that the cut would likely require stitches to mend.

The woman was transported to a local hospital where a sexual battery kit was administered. 

Whaley left the residence prior to the deputy’s arrival and the deputy wrote in his report that based on the woman’s account and "coupled with Whaley fleeing prior to Law Enforcement’s arrival, I believe probable cause does exist to charge Whaley with one count of sexual battery-domestic violence."

Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680.