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GPD names a person of interest in armed burglary and sexual battery case

Gainesville police have identified a person of interest in a recent SW 10th St. armed residential burglary and sexual battery case. Andre Locus, 19, may be connected to the April 15 incident, police said, adding that the case is ongoing. Police identified Locus after discovering similarities between this incident and a 2011 sexual battery case. Police arrested Locus Tuesday for the 2011 sexual battery. Locus reportedly broke into a home at 1200 block of SW First Ave. and raped a woman at knifepoint before stealing her electronics, police said about the 2011 case. Because he was 17-years-old at the time, the state attorney's office will be involved in the decision of how he will be charged. “We don’t have enough evidence to connect the two, but we are definitely looking at him as a person of interest in the recent case,” said Ben Tobias, spokesman for the Gainesville Police Department. In both the recent and 2011 cases, a weapon was involved, sexual battery occurred and personal electronic items were stolen, he said. “We didn’t know he was the suspect (in the 2011 case) until we received forensic evidence (Monday),” Tobias said. “Once we had the warrant, we immediately went looking for him.” Locus was carrying several stolen items at the time of his arrest from another occupied residential burglary case which occurred less than a week ago at 1123 SW First Ave., Tobais said. He also had a stash of property police think was likely stolen from other burglaries in the area.

Kristen is a reporter who can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.