FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A man was arrested Wednesday on sexual battery charges after he raped a woman whom he initially met on Instagram, authorities said.
According to an arrest report, Brian Harden, 30, met the victim online in January and asked her to meet him Sunday night "as friends," because he knew she was in a relationship.
Recommended Videos
The woman told police that she and her roommate met Harden at the Bull Market in Fort Lauderdale and said he was intoxicated.
She said she left with her roommate about midnight because she was feeling sick.
According to the report, Harden texted the victim and asked if he could "crash on your couch," and she said she would leave the front door unlocked for him.
She said she woke up to find Harden having sex with her against her will, but said she didn't say anything because she was "out of it" and "wasn't sure if it was actually happening," the report said.
Police said the woman went back to sleep and woke up a second time to find Harden touching her. She told detectives that she was a "little more aware at this time" and moved her body to show him that she was waking up, in hopes that he would stop, detectives said.
According to the report, the victim woke up in the morning and was not sure whether she had only dreamed about the sexual encounters during the night.
She said she went to the bathroom, saw Harden sleeping on the couch and "immediately freaked out."
Police said Harden asked her for water, which she gave him, and then he left.
The victim called police a few hours later and filed a police report.
The woman was taken to the Nancy J. Cotterman Treatment Center for a medical exam.
Detectives said Harden showed up at the woman's home on Thursday without permission and said he wanted to discuss the incident.
Instead, the woman called 911, and Harden was arrested in front of her home.
Harden faces two counts of sexual battery.