Man allegedly held panhandler captive for months until she escaped, Florida officials say

A woman who said she had been held captive by man who beat her for months was able to escape during a stop at a Walgreens, Florida officials said Tuesday. 

The woman took her chance to flee when the suspect, Walter Medina, 48, briefly left her unattended at the pharmacy in the Tampa area, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies were dispatched to help her on Monday after a caller reported that an injured woman had just escaped from a van and needed help.

Officers took Medina into custody on Tuesday after a chase. He was charged with attempted second degree murder and armed kidnapping.