By Joe Johnson

Three serious, violent crimes were committed by homeless person during the first two months of 2021, according to Athens-Clarke County police reports.

The incidents that occurred between Jan. 10 and mid-February reportedly involved a shooting and two rapes, one that involved the brutal and repeated beating of a woman.

“A victim within the homeless community can be exceptionally vulnerable,” said Sgt. Jody Thompson, a supervisor in the police Special Victims Unit. “Any domestic violence situation can be isolating. It is compounded when the domicile is further isolated in a homeless camp within a secluded wooded area.”

The most recent incident was initially brought to the attention of police by a woman who reported that when she picked up her niece at the Atlanta Highway RaceTrac on Feb. 24, the 21-year-old woman was suffering from significant injuries.

After an investigation by ACCPD’s SVU, it was determined that the victim had allegedly been assaulted and raped by her boyfriend, 21-year-old Tyronte Cameron Sloss at a homeless camp where they lived together, behind the Peking Restaurant on Old Epps Bridge Road.

The aunt said the victim used to live with her before moving out to stay with Sloss, who she accused of deliberately “creating distance” between the victim and her family.

Sloss, who allegedly beat the woman with a hammer over a period of several days, fracturing her orbital socket, skull and wrist, was initially arrested March 2 on an aggravated assault charge, according to police, who said the victim also had ligature marks on her wrist. Sloss allegedly raped the woman on Feb. 12 or 13.

After further investigation, police learned that the victim tried to leave the camp several times, but Sloss allegedly dragged her back.

“This was a very violent and traumatic ordeal for the victim,” Thompson said.

On March 10, Sloss was additionally charged with a second count of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, family violence battery and reckless conduct.

As of Tuesday afternoon, he was being held at the county jail without bail being set.

One month prior to Sloss’s arrest, on Jan. 25, police said they arrested 30-year-old Stephen Dalton Sims for allegedly raping a woman at a homeless camp off College Station Road.

The rape allegedly occurred three days prior to Sims being arrested, police said.

The suspect and victim reportedly knew each other.

Sims on Tuesday continued to be jailed without bail being set.

About two weeks prior to Sims being arrested, 66-year-old Andrew Lamar Lumpkin was arrested for shooting another man at a homeless camp in the 200 block of North Avenue,

The 40-year-old victim, who was also homeless was treated at the hospital and later released.

Sims was still at the camp when arrested on an aggravated assault charge, and has been jailed without bail ever since.