Soldier charged in rape is apprehended

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A fugitive soldier accused of raping a 15-year-old California girl has been caught in Florida, authorities said.

Pvt. Daniel Brazelton, 20, was arrested Friday at a motel in Daytona Beach, Capt. Mike Parker of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told the Los Angeles Times. He was unarmed and surrendered peacefully.

Brazelton escaped from military custody in Georgia Feb. 11 while being transferred to civilian authorities to face the rape charge in Los Angeles County.

Parker said Special Victims Bureau detectives had feared Brazelton might try to return to his hometown of Palmdale, Calif. He is in the Volusia County Jail pending extradition to California.