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The woman says the rape crisis center that examined her is holding her records.
In her first public statement Monday, the 21-year-old woman who was arrested after reporting that she had been raped at the Gasparilla festival said she is concerned for her "physical condition," while her attorney and her mother blasted the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the rape crisis center that examined her.
The woman, whose family lives in Sarasota County, read a prepared statement. Even though she stood before television cameras and photographers, her family and attorney asked that her identity be shielded until her alleged assailant is caught.
"Right now, we've got a dangerous rapist loose," said Venice attorney Virlyn "Vic" Moore III, who is representing the victim and who also employs her mother as a paralegal.
In a soft, quiet voice, the woman thanked those who have helped her, including employees at the Hillsborough County jail, but said she remains concerned about her health. The crisis center that examined her has not released her medical records, which she said are necessary to determine if she needs further medical treatment.
"Unfortunately, I am still very much concerned with my physical condition and have been unable to obtain the results of medical testing done at the crisis clinic," the victim said.
The clinic, Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, would not comment on the case or on comments made at the press conference.
The case caught national attention when reports of the woman's rape and subsequent arrest surfaced.
The woman reported the rape after attending Gasparilla Day festivities in Tampa. She was arrested because of an outstanding warrant for unpaid restitution relating to a juvenile case in Sarasota County.
The Tampa Police Department has since changed its policy regarding outstanding warrants on victims of violent crime. The woman thanked the police department for the change in policy.
"I appreciate their willingness to try to rectify the situation, so that what happened to me will not happen to anyone else," she said.
While at the Hillsborough County jail, where she spent two nights, the woman claims a nurse denied her the second dose of the "morning after" contraception pill. The woman says the nurse cited her religious beliefs in denying her treatment, although she did eventually receive the pill.
The Hillsborough Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation into why the victim was initially denied the pill.
While the sheriff's department said its preliminary investigation revealed that a miscommunication between booking deputies was to blame, a spokeswoman for the department declined on Monday to comment until the investigation is complete.
Moore would not comment on whether he intends to file suit against any of the parties involved.
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