Neighbor questions police after calling 911 for woman screaming for help at Town Center apartment

The man accused of breaking into a Southside apartment and sexually battering a woman in front of her father has been identified.

The state attorney's office confirmed Timothy McGhee has been arrested.

The attack happened Sunday.

McGhee is now being held without bond.

A tenant at Terraces at Town Center Apartments, who didn’t want to be identified, said he heard the woman cry out for help

“The screams got louder and louder until you could audibly hear a woman say, ‘Oh God, anyone help me, please anyone help me,'” the tenant said.

The tenant heard the cries for help after midnight.

“My girlfriend immediately called 911 and said she heard a woman screaming for help desperately,” the tenant said.

He said that officers showed up and only knocked on a few doors, then left.

He said other neighbors heard screams as well.

“And then three hours later, they get a call to come back and find out a rape was happening. Probably while they were here it was occurring,” the tenant said.

Lindsey Nolen said she got home from work around the same time police said the suspect got on to the property.

“I could have definitely let him in the gate or crossed paths with him,” Nolen said.

She only lives a few doors down from where this happened.

“An officer knocked on our door and informed us that someone had kicked down our neighbor’s door,” Nolen said.

Although she is happy McGhee has been arrested, she thinks the management at the apartment complex should have done more to keep the residents informed.

“I think they should have stressed to residents that there’s a need to make sure your door is locked at night,” Nolen said.

Police were able to find McGhee on Bay Street downtown and the victim picked him out in a photo lineup.

Action News Jax also reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office about the other tenant’s 911 call, but hasn't heard back yet.

Cox Media Group