21-089 Detectives Arrest Man for Attempted Armed Sexual Battery and Kidnapping
Kidnapping Arrest
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit
Kenneth Brabham (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 1/23/1973
Address: 6324 29TH Way, St. Petersburg
Charge: Kidnapping, Attempted Armed Sexual Battery, and Committing a Felony While Possessing a Weapon
PINELLAS COUNTY – Deputies assigned to the Patrol Operations Bureau responded to the area of Gandy Beach at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 4, 2021. Multiple 9-1-1 calls were received of a woman running across Gandy Boulevard while being chased by a male subject. Witnesses told dispatchers the female was screaming that the male was attempting to sexually batter her.
Deputies arrived on the scene and found the suspect, 48-year-old Career Offender Kenneth Brabham lying in the sand of Gandy Beach near the female who was being chased. Brabham was detained and deputies at the scene began to investigate.
According to investigators, Brabham picked up the victim in the Lealman area and offered to drive her home due to the rain. The victim, who has never met Brabham, entered his truck, and the two began driving towards her residence. When Brabham passed the victim's residence, he armed himself with a weapon as he ordered her to perform oral sex on him.
Detectives say the victim refused Brabham’s advances and attempted to escape through the passenger window. Brabham began driving towards Gandy Beach, and at times, the victim was screaming for help and hanging out of the truck's window until he pulled over onto Gandy Beach. The victim leapt from the truck and ran across Gandy Boulevard towards a nearby gas station, where she attempted to get help. Brabham caught the victim, began beating her, and was in the process of dragging her to his truck when deputies arrived.
The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment and is in stable condition.
Brabham was transported to the Sheriff’s Administration Building and interviewed by detectives. During the interview, he admitted to picking up the victim but denied attempting to sexually batter her. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail, where he is being held on charges of Kidnapping, Attempted Armed Sexual Battery, and Committing a Felony While Possessing a Weapon.
If you have any information in this case or believe you have been a victim of Brabham, you are asked to contact Detective Blumberg at (727) 582-6779 or by email at cblumberg@pcsonet.com.
The investigation continues.
