St. Johns County sex predator arrested after 3-hour manhunt, sheriff’s office says

A registered sex predator was arrested after a three-hour manhunt Saturday in St. Johns County following an alleged attempted sexual battery and armed robbery, the sheriff’s office said.SJSO said its Special Victims Unit determined Kendrick Newby forced a victim into a business bathroom while armed with a knife. The victim escaped and was chased by Newby outside, where he tried to leave in the victim’s car, authorities said. A bystander pulled Newby from the vehicle, and he ran into nearby woods and removed his ankle monitor.Deputies, aviation, drone and K-9 units found Newby hiding in the woods, still armed with a knife, officials said.Newby was charged with attempted armed sexual battery, armed robbery, aggravated assault, kidnapping, grand theft of a motor vehicle, tampering with an electronic monitoring device, resisting without violence and violation of probation.