Deputies: Ex-Tarpon Springs Cop Kidnapped, Sexually Battered Woman

This story was reported and written by Patch Local Editor Jeffrey Rosenfield.

Authorities have arrested a Dunedin man and former Tarpon Springs Police officer and charged him with kidnapping and sexually battering a woman after they say he impersonated a cop Friday morning.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the man drove up to a 30-year-old woman who was walking along Gulf to Bay Boulevard near Highland Avenue in Clearwater at around 2:30 in the morning on Friday, July 26.

After asking the victim if she needed a ride, the woman got in the suspect's vehicle, according to the sheriff's report.

The suspect drove a few blocks before the victim asked to be let out of the vehicle, authorities say. But the suspect refused to let her out, showed her a handgun and a police badge and told the victim she was under arrest.

Police say the suspect then drove to a home on Stirling Terrace in Dunedin, where he proceeded to sexually batter the victim, holding her in the home for several hours.

After the suspect fell asleep, the woman was able to escape; as she left the home, the victim got the tag number for the suspect's vehicle, which she provided to police.

Detectives identified the suspect as 38-year-old Dunedin resident Larry Kobielnik. The Tampa Bay Times reports Kobielnik formerly served on the Tarpon Springs Police force but had not worked there in at least 10 years.

Kobielnik was arrested and charged with kidnapping and sexual battery. He denied all the allegations against him, authorities said.

The sheriff's office is still investigating the incident.