ORLANDO, Fla. — A woman says a man pulled out a knife at Orlando International Airport and dragged her in a bathroom stall Sunday.
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The woman who accused the man of attacking her said she feared for her life.
The tourist told police she was inside the hotel bathroom washing her hands when, out of nowhere, a man was standing behind her in the mirror, likely hiding in a stall when she came in.
The woman was able to get away and run for help.
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Police arrested the man and said he also took her cellphone so she could not call 911.
According to the police report, the woman was in Orlando visiting with friends and family and staying at the Hyatt Hotel inside OIA and having breakfast at the restaurant just after 10 a.m.
She said the suspect pulled out a pocket knife, grabbed her around the neck and dragged her into the stall, cutting her hand and telling her not to scream.
She fought him off, called for help and ran to the hostess stand at the restaurant where they called hotel security. The suspect was held by security for police.
The suspect identified her attacker as Damani Matthews.
In a separate incident the day before, sources said a man with a similar description attacked an airport employee in a different bathroom inside Terminal B around 5:45 a.m. The man was also armed with a knife and the victim screamed and ran away.
The man escaped. Orlando police said they are investigating a connection between those two incidents.
On Monday, Matthews faced a judge and will remain in jail under no bond because he is on probation for two other alleged crimes over the last two years.
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Damani was charged with attempted robbery, attempted kidnapping and attempted battery with a weapon.
He has not been charged in that possible case from Saturday.
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