Gulfport man charged with attempted rape, kidnapping of Waveland woman

Waveland Police have charged a Gulfport man with trying to kidnap and rape a woman he saw walking down the street.

Chief Mike Prendergast said 32-year-old Elijah Dunomes has been charged with attempted kidnapping and attempted rape. He was taken to Hancock County jail and has no bond. Prendergast said other charges may be pending.

Prendergast said Monday night about 8:30 p.m. police were called to the scene at Tigris and Amu streets, where a Good Samaritan stopped when he saw a woman being assaulted in the ditch on the side of the road.

The victim told officers she was walking down the street when the suspect came from behind her in a Chevrolet Impala and used the vehicle to block her path.

The suspect got out of the vehicle and tried to grab her. She hit him with her computer bag, knocking him backwards. That’s when he started assaulting her and then ended up in the ditch.

The victim told officers the suspect told her he was going to sexually assault her and that if she didn’t cooperate, he would kill her. At one point, the victim said, the suspect claimed he was the police.

The Good Samaritan was driving when he saw the assault and stopped to help. The suspect then left the scene. As the witness was helping the victim, he said he saw the suspect’s vehicle return but sped off again.

A BOLO was issued for the Impala and was located at a gas station in Bay St. Louis. Dunomes was taken into custody.