COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Colorado Springs police say a homeless woman was thrown from a ledge and beaten and repeatedly raped for three days where she landed, paralyzed and unable to escape.

The Gazette, citing recently unsealed court documents, reported Friday (http://tinyurl.com/hzzvzfe )  that the ordeal ended May 2 when a passer-by found the woman beneath the Cimarron Street bridge south of downtown Colorado Springs. According to court records, her spine was fractured and her spinal cord injured.

Police arrested a 21-year-old homeless man in the case. He is being held at the El Paso County jail on charges of attempted murder and sexual assault.

Homeless advocates told The Gazette vulnerable people are left with little choice but to risk their safety and live outside because El Paso County has too few shelter beds.