WINDERMERE, Fla. — A Windermere man suspected in a series of alleged rapes talked with Channel 9 on Friday before learning his attorney was quitting.
Darryl Patterson is accused of attempt sexual assault on a woman who offered to drive him home from a function they were both attending last month.
Police said they believe Patterson tried to sexually assault the woman after giving her shots of Fireball whiskey that might have been laced with a drug. The woman told authorities she became nauseated and semiconscious.
Photos: Windermere police search rape suspect's house
Patterson talked with Channel 9 shortly before learning the attorney representing him, Leslie Sweet, quit.
In a text message to WFTV, Patterson wrote, "If you knew everything you would understand. This is unbelievable."
Patterson went on to say, "I wish I could tell you. You would be in awe." He also said he would ask his lawyer if he could say more. There's no word on whether he's hired a new attorney.
Sweet told Channel 9 she already has a heavy caseload and Thursday was too overwhelming.
Police said the attempted assault happened weeks after Patterson was questioned about three other sexual assaults, which were recorded and show two women unconscious and a third only semiconscious.
The Windermere police's search warrant details how officers believe Patterson sexually assaulted the three women sometime in 2010 or before and videotaped the assaults.
Authorities said one video shows a woman as she tries to push Patterson away without success. Patterson then proceeds to have sex with the woman while she is unaware of what was going on, authorities said.
Videos show two other women sexually assaulted while completely unconscious, authorities said.
A police document says Patterson was questioned with his lawyer two months ago and refused to identify the three other women in the videos.
Investigators spent Thursday at Patterson's home, searching for videos, photos, cameras, computers and phones that might contain evidence of the attempted sexual assault in March.
Even though police served the search warrant, Patterson was not arrested.
In March, investigators released composite sketches of two women they were seeking to identify. On Thursday, they said they want to identify the woman in connection to their investigation. (see composites)
WFTV
