Sarasota man faces rape and kidnapping charges

SARASOTA - A 53-year-old man was arrested early Sunday on charges that he kidnapped and raped a woman.

Cleo Livingston, of the 2000 block of Palmadelia Avenue, confronted the victim and a friend near the intersection of 40th Street and North Tamiami Trail, according to a probable cause affidavit released by the county.

Both the victim and her friend, Jose Castillo, told officers that Livingston was carrying a gun.

Livingston told the victim to come with him, and when Castillo tried to stop him from taking the woman, Livingston threatened them both.

He grabbed the victim by the neck and took her to Water Tower Park, where he raped her several times over the next three hours, according to the affidavit.

A passerby, Tyrone Barnhart, saw Livingston and the woman in the park and asked them if everything was OK. The woman mouthed that she had been raped. Barnhart told the victim to come with him. After he walked her home, she called 911.

Livingston was taken to the Sarasota County jail, where he was charged with sexual battery, aggravated assault and kidnapping.