Police: Video shows Florida man raping unconscious woman

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Police say video taken by a bystander shows a man raping an unconscious, 19-year-old woman behind a trash bin outside a Florida restaurant.

Gainesville police spokesman Ben Tobias says two witnesses separated 34-year-old Christopher Shaw and the intoxicated woman early Thursday. The witnesses told investigators the woman was unable to walk on her own and had difficulty talking and keeping her eyes open.

One of those witnesses was University of Florida linebacker Christian Garcia.  He told FOX 35 it was the last thing he expected to see as he was taking out the trash at the restaurant where he works.  

"I took about five steps and turned around and realized the girl was practically unconscious, so I turned around, I grabbed the guy by the shoulder, and I said, 'Get off her!' He said,  'Mind your business!'" explained Garcia.  "He tried to fight me and threw a few punches, but he fell flat on his face."

Garcia said he never feared for his own safety and acted out of instinct. "I just hoped if that was my mom or my sister that somebody would do the same thing, so I just stepped in and tried to diffuse the situation."

Gainesville police officers responded immediately, but unfortunately, Shaw fled the scene before they arrived. 

"Thankfully, in less than 24 hours, we were able to identify Mr. Shaw as the suspect and place him under arrest," Tobias said. 

Police say she told investigators in a hospital interview that she didn't know Shaw and that she tried to push him away but kept losing consciousness.   Shaw was charged with sexual battery and jailed on a $500,000 bond. Jail records did not list an attorney for him Friday.

While some are calling Garcia a hero, he said he was simply doing what he thought was right.  

"I don't really consider myself a hero, I just thought it was right and I hold strong moral values, so I feel like nobody should be taken advantage of like that."