INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Police have arrested a man in reference to a reported attempted rape at knife point that occurred in the 11000 block of US 1 in Roseland on Monday night.
Lawrence Bergere, 57, of the 300 block of Dolphin Circle, Barefoot Bay, was identified by the female victim as the man who asked for help with his bicycle and lured her away from a friend she was walking with.
The victim told authorities the man “pressed a knife against her neck” and told her “if she made any noise he would kill her.”
The man later identified as Bergere began to pull clothes off of the woman, but she screamed for help and Bergere fled, according to the arrest affidavit.
The woman told investigators Bergere yelled he “would be back” and that “he always comes back for the pretty ones,” as he left.
A fisherman pointed authorities north on US 1, advising he saw a man matching the suspect’s description riding a bicycle.
Authorities located Bergere at Bottoms Up Bar and Grill where witnesses reported Bergere had come and gone multiple times during the evening.
Bergere’s statement to investigators contradicted statements from witnesses. He told authorities he left Squid Lips where he said he is employed, went home, and arrived at Bottoms Up around 3 p.m., and did not leave before authorities approached him that night.
Bergere faces charges including felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor battery. He is being held at the Indian River County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bond.
