A man dressed as a woman is accused of accosting man in a pickup

HOLIDAY — The man waited at a red light on U.S. 19 late Tuesday when a shadowy figure with long black hair climbed in his pickup.

The stranger, dressed in women's clothing, began fondling him, saying, "I need to make 20 bucks."

The 59-year-old man ordered the intruder out of his truck, without success. So he drove south on U.S. 19, arguing with his passenger along the way, until he found a safe place to pull over. He threatened to call 911, but the intruder got hold of his cell phone.

A little further south, the man saw a pay phone at a gas station. He tried calling 911 from there, but the call failed. All the while, the intruder stood behind him and, according to a Pasco Sheriff's Office report, said, "If you don't give me any money, I'll find a way to call your wife."

The argument went on, and finally the intruder threw the cell phone across the parking lot and walked away. The victim reached the Sheriff's Office. A deputy said the intruder was found a quarter-mile away.

As it turned out, deputies say the intruder dressed as a woman was really a man — Raymond L. Bowen, 32, of New Port Richey.

Bowen, who goes by the alias Alexis, has been arrested several times in Pasco County, jail records show.

In his version of Tuesday night's events, Bowen told deputies that he was "working" on U.S. 19 when the man pulled over and picked him up. He denied touching the man.

Bowen was arrested and charged with burglary battery and criminal mischief. In his jail mug, he is still wearing a black wig.

Molly Moorhead can be reached at moorhead@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6245.