AM850.com

The mood is heavy as residents of the surreal Haile Plantation rape realize that the brutal beating and rape of a young woman yesterday morning is in fact reality.

More officers are patrolling in the Haile Plantation area today and last night along with the rest of Alachua County. A man assaulted and raped a woman jogging yesterday around 6:30 A.M. by the entrance into Indigo Square. A.S.O. and University of Florida officers sent fliers out to the neighborhoods and surrounding businesses to inform them of the incident. More deputies were in Haile Plantation this morning flagging down cars to see if they drove by yesterday at that time and have any information. A.S.O. is also locating sexual predators within a five mile radius to question them about what they were doing at 6:30 yesterday morning.

Alachua County Sheriffs office spokesman Lieutenant Steve Maynard says the people in Haile Plantation are scared and apprehensive this morning.

While the tragedy is fresh on the minds of some, it seems that most joggers continue to do their daily regimen. Risk Reduction Project Coordinator at the Alachua County Victim Services Laura Kalt says it's never the victims fault.

And in response to this week's assault in Haile Plantation, the Haile Plantation Community Management is organizing a defensive tactic seminar for women. General Manager for Haile Plantation Pat Summerson says that the Management Specialists at Haile are working with the board and Homeowners Association to have the class at the Plantation meeting hall.

The idea to arrange this meeting was a result of the rape incident and other issues at the Plantation. Summerson says that their website haileplantation.com is where you can find all the information about the actions that are being implemented for the future. The date of the class will be early as the first week of June.