Tenant held in Marietta rape

A man living at a Marietta apartment complex was charged with raping one of its employees, police said Friday.

Police said the female contract employee was cleaning a vacant unit Wednesday at Ashford Retreat Apartments on Windy Hill Road when Norris Leonard allegedly brandished a knife and robbed her of an unknown amount of cash.

Leonard then allegedly sexually assaulted the woman before locking her in a closet. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. in a unit close to where Leonard lives, police said.

Forensic evidence at the scene led to Leonard’s arrest Thursday, police said.

He was being held Friday at the Cobb County jail without bond, charged with aggravated sexual battery, aggravated sodomy and armed robbery.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call 770-794-5372 or the Marietta police tip line at 770-794-6990.