A St. Cloud man accused of attacking a woman after he offered her a ride turned himself in to the Polk County Jail last night.
A warrant had been issued for 52-year-old John G. Reger. Detectives said he was identified as the attacker after the victim took the tag from his truck.
According to deputies, on June 28th, the 20-year-old victim was walking along US. Hwy 17 towards the Royal Inn, located at 3525 Lake Alfred Rd., where she was headed to pick up items from a room.
A gray Ford pickup truck pulled along beside her and asked if she needed a ride, deputies said. The victim accepted the offer of the ride and deputies said Reger took her to the Royal Inn.
Deputies said the victim got out of the truck and thought Reger was going to stay inside of the truck while she collected the items from the room.
However, deputies said Reger waited a few moments, then followed the victim into the room without her knowledge. Deputies said he came up from behind her and began to strangle her with both arms around her neck and then knocked her to the ground and got on top of her.
Deputies said the victim was able to fight her way free from Reger's grasp and ran from the motel room.
As she ran out of the room, deputies said she went to the truck and was able to retrieve the tag from the pickup truck before he got inside and left. The victim had cuts and scrapes, but was otherwise physically unharmed.