A man accused of choking a 91-year-old woman during a burglary was being held in jail on Monday without bond.
Ryan Pearl, 21, was arrested on Friday. He was charged with burglary with assault or battery.
According to Fort Lauderdale police, on August 24, Pearl broke into a home in the 1300 block of Southeast 14th Street in the Rio Vista neighborhood. When he realized the woman inside was awake, he began choking her.
The elderly woman, a former dancer and dance instructor, kicked and scratched the burglar suspect until he made a run for it out her front door, according to police.
Police are not identifying the victim, who is recovering from the incident. On Monday, she told Local 10 that she was feeling better.
"I'm fine," she said.
Pearl was on probation for a prior armed robbery charge.
