One of my local heros comes through again...
Pregnant woman sexually assaulted
By George Lane
Denver Post Staff Writer
July 12 - A pregnant woman recovering from a recent automobile accident was sexually assaulted in her home late Saturday night by a 300-pound man wearing swimming trunks.
The 30-year-old Arapahoe County woman, who was home alone watching TV shortly after 10 p.m., called 911 when she heard her dogs barking and became frightened.
Michael Lee Hrdlicka, 30, was arrested inside the home, in the 2200 block of S. Alton Way, moments later after a brief struggle with Sheriff's Sgt. Terry Reibeling - the same SWAT team officer who spotted and arrested a man allegedly planning to blow up the Islamic Center in May.
The victim, who was released from the hospital Sunday, had to hobble to the kitchen on crutches to get to the telephone to call 911 for help, Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sullivan said. She had stitches in her mouth and a broken ankle from the automobile accident.
While she was on the telephone with the 911 operator, the woman said she saw Hrdlicka coming from the basement of her home. She said he grabbed her and put his hands over her mouth. The 911 dispatcher reported that the woman said "he is putting his hand over my mouth'' before contact was lost with the caller, Sullivan said.
The woman told deputies she then bit Hrdlicka's hand, forcing him to let go. She also told responding officers that the 6-foot-2-inch assailant told her, "I am going to kill you slowly,'' after he ripped off her underwear and hit her in the mouth, breaking the stitches.
He is also accused of fondling her.
It was about this time that deputies arrived at the house and heard the woman inside screaming for help, Sullivan reported.
Reibeling kicked in the front door, entered the home with Deputy Rob Ortler and saw the partially clad woman with her back against the living room wall crying and screaming for help.
Hrdlicka - wearing a green tank top, black swimming trunks and tan sandals - was standing over the woman pulling up his trunks. When he saw the officers, he attempted to run from the house, Sullivan said.
"Deputy Ortler yelled at the suspect to stop and held him at gunpoint,'' the sheriff said. "The suspect turned and walked toward Deputy Ortler stating, "Go ahead and kill me.'- ''
Reibeling then rushed the man, knocking him to the ground. Sullivan noted that Reibeling weighs about 250 to 275 pounds, is big enough to handle the suspect.
"This guy is one outstanding sergeant,'' the sheriff said.
When interviewed by investigators Sunday, Hrdlicka said he had been drinking at a company party much of the day. Sullivan said the party wasn't near the home of the attack.
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