'He is trying to kill me' | Man arrested for attacking woman with metal baton after bystander helps her escape

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A man was arrested for beating a woman with a metal baton and sexually abusing her after a bystander helped her escape.

Court documents said LMPD was notified of a physical and sexual assault of a female by an unknown subject on Thursday. Documents said the woman was able to get a passerby to stop and help her get away after she was allegedly attacked by a man with a metal baton.

Officers were able to locate a scene on 1600 Northwestern Parkway where they found a baton, clothing, broken glass and latex gloves.

The victim told detectives the suspect hit her with a metal baton, causing her to lose a tooth. She said she was then put in a "rear naked choke," hit multiple times and the man attempted to strangle her, She had a broken nose, jaw fracture, a laceration to her face, and multiple teeth fractured and knocked out. She had to have surgery for the laceration on her face.

34-year-old Jamille Stewart has been identified as the suspect. He was arrested later that day.

The woman told police Stewart said, "I'm going to kill you if you keep screaming." She allegedly told him to "just rape me and leave, don't kill me."

Court documents said Stewart touched her inappropriately and told her, "Let it happen, stop fighting. Stop yelling and being loud."

Stewart's arrest citation details that a witness came down the path on his bike and to where the assault was happening. Stewart allegedly stood up out of the bushes and the witness saw the victim's bloody face. The witness told police that Stewart told him "this isn't your business." The woman told the witness, "he is trying to kill me." The witness then said he was "making it his business" and helped the victim escape and find a cell phone to call police.

Police allegedly found Stewart getting treated for dehydration and lacerations to the foot at Norton Hospital. Stewart reportedly admitted to hitting the victim with the baton.

Neighbors in the area said they believe Stewart may have been homeless and said people camping near the Northwestern Parkway expressway have been an ongoing concern in the area.

The home address listed on Stewart's arrest citation leads to a local nonprofit that operates a daytime drop-in center for people experiencing homelessness. LMPD did not respond to WDRB's request for comment on whether Stewart is homeless.

Nina Mosley, president and CEO of Wayside Christian Mission, said about 600 people experiencing homelessness sleep outdoors in Louisville on a typical night and that the area near Northwestern Parkway is a common camping location.

"Most of them are not out to harm others. They're just trying to survive and get to a better place," Mosley said. "It's terrible when an incident happens like this, whether it's a homeless person or whether it's some other citizen on the street. It's a tragedy that someone's safety has been bodily violated."

Stewart was scheduled to appear in court Friday for charges of assault, sexual abuse and strangulation.