Woman sexually assaulted at CityPlace pub, police say

Copper Blues workers see attack in bathroom, come to aid of victim.

WEST PALM BEACH — A 23-yearold Tennessee man is free on $100,000 bond after his arrest Thursday on charges of sexually assaulting a woman in the women’s restroom of a CityPlace pub.

The woman was assaulted at Copper Blues early Thursday, police said. Employees at the Rosemary Avenue restaurant “observed the assault taking place and rescued the victim,” offering her aid, chasing the suspect and calling the authorities, according to a city police spokesman.

Officers detained Joshua Thomas Sullins on the 500 block of Gardenia Street, just east of CityPlace, and took him to police headquarters, where he was charged with sexual battery and resisting an officer without violence.

According to an arrest report, the woman told police she had one alcoholic drink Thursday night at Cooper Blues, then went to a friend’s house and had a second drink before the two of them

returned to the pub.

“The next thing she remembered was police surrounding her and telling her ‘something’ happened,’” the report said.

Three witnesses told police they saw Sullins sexually assault her while she was unconscious in the restroom. After police found him, Sullins denied having had sex with the woman but said he might have touched her after she had kissed him.

At his first appearance hearing Friday morning at the Palm Beach County Jail, Judge Caroline Shepherd said Sullins cannot have contact with the woman and he also cannot go either to bars or clubs. He was released from the jail shortly after noon.

Sullins’ defense attorney said his grandmother lives in Palm Beach County and could house him until the case is resolved. Sullins lists his legal address as Bartlett, Tenn., a suburb of Memphis.

“I think he is a danger to this community. He is not local to our community,” an assistant state attorney said during the hearing.

Sullins has a theft case from Tennessee, the prosecutor said, though the details of that case were not immediately available Friday.

Joshua Sullins, 23, of Tennessee, was released on $100,000 bond Friday.

RICHARD GRAULICH / THE PALM BEACH POST Joshua Sullins, accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a CityPlace bar, makes his first court appearance at the county jail on Friday.