FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) – A Fort Wayne man faces eight felony charges after fleeing from officers Tuesday afternoon.
Around 1 p.m., numerous FWPD officers responded to a report of a sexual assault that the caller said had occurred on Sunday. Upon arrival, those officers encountered a male matching the description provided to the dispatcher by the victim.
The man fled from the officers as they attempted to speak with him, dropping a loaded pistol during his escape. He was caught and taken into custody a short distance away.
34-year-old Christopher Applewhile is accused of forcing his way into a woman’s room, armed with a knife. Applewhite also allegedly stole a pistol the woman was holding to defend herself and used that against her.
The victim was taken to a local hospital for her injuries and to the Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center (SATC).
Applewhite’s charges are listed below:
- Count I: Felony rape
- Count II: Felony burglary
- Count III: Felony strangulation
- Count IV: Felony armed robbery
- Count V: Felony intimidation with a deadly weapon
- Count VI: Felony criminal confinement
- Count VII: Felony serious violent felon in possession of a handgun
- Count VIII: Misdemeanor resisting law enforcement by fleeing on foot
- Count IX: Felony unlawful carrying of a handgun
