Key West woman was sexually assaulted inside bar bathroom by an employee, police said

Feb. 1--A Key West man was jailed this week after police said he sexually assaulted a 72-year-old woman inside a bathroom after closing time at the bar where he works.

Thomas Edward LaTorre, 65, was arrested Wednesday on a felony charge of sexual assault. Key West police said the assault happened in the early hours of Nov. 5, 2019, at Shooterz Lounge, 3102 Flagler Ave.

The alleged victim said she went to the bar at about 10:30 p.m.Nov. 4 and had three drinks.

Hours later, she asked to use the bathroom but it was occupied, she said, and the bar had closed for the night.

At about 3 a.m., she was smoking outside when an employee -- later identified as LaTorre -- came outside to ask if she needed to use the bathroom, police reported.

She went to the bathroom and while on the toilet, LaTorre allegedly assaulted her until she was able to break free and run out of the bar, police said.

LaTorre is listed as a beverage manager in jail records and as a cook in the police report. The bar's owner said LaTorre cleans the place and opens and closes the business and that he does not live at the bar.

LaTorre on Friday remained locked up at the Stock Island Detention Center on $75,000 bond.

He has a court date set for Feb. 14.

Police interviewed the alleged victim, a Key West woman who at the time was living at a domestic abuse shelter.

With only her statement as evidence, police in November suspended the investigation pending the results of the testing of a sexual assault kit, which detectives had sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The evidence sent to FDLE included a swab containing LaTorre's DNA.

Police spokeswoman Alyson Crean said she couldn't confirm whether LaTorre's DNA test results led to his arrest and only released the incident report.

Monroe County State Attorney's Office couldn't be reached for comment on Friday.

During an interview with police in November, LaTorre denied he touched the woman.

"LaTorre looked visibly surprised by the allegation and said, 'This is crazy,' " police reported.

When asked if there would be any reason his DNA would be on the woman, LaTorre said no, police reported, and agreed to provide a DNA sample.

The woman told police in November she didn't want to pursue charges and that she only called police to find out if LaTorre was a "serial rapist," police reported.

___

(c)2020 the Florida Keys Keynoter (Marathon, Fla.)

Visit the Florida Keys Keynoter (Marathon, Fla.) at www.keysnet.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.