Friday, July 1, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Teen charged in cart path rape attempt By LEE WILLIAMS Less than 12 hours after a man allegedly tried to strangle and rape a woman in the golf cart path near Lake Peachtree, Peachtree City police tracked down the suspect and arrested him. A 14-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the assault that occurred at 10:49 p.m. Wednesday. He is charged with false imprisonment, attempted rape, battery and violation of probation, Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray said Thursday morning, just 10 minutes after he was taken into custody. A female was jogging along the cart path along Lake Peachtree behind the Lakewood subdivision when she was attacked from behind, police said. The suspect allegedly punched her and held her down on the ground in a chokehold, police said. Cindy Mendenhall, who lives in Lakewood subdivision, was taking out the trash when she heard what she called a blood hurling scream. The lady was just screaming Get away, said the 44-year-old Mendenhall. Mendenhall rushed to find a man to help her fight off the attacker, but was too late. Another neighbor who was crossing the bridge fought the attacker off. The assailant, who was described as a small black man wearing a red do-rag and a white T-shirt, jumped on his bicycle and bolted. Luckily, Murray indicated, police were able to track him down at a house on Laurel Court. The juvenile had already changed his clothes, Murray said. It was real good police work both by the patrol officers and the investigators, Murray said. Officers spoke to the alleged assailants father and told him to bring him to the police station Thursday. The father did and the juvenile was taken into custody, the chief said. Murray said the juvenile has been charged as such, but he plans to ask Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard to charge him as an adult. If the juvenile is charged as an adult, his name could be made public. Murray indicates he plans to do whatever he can to ensure justice is served. He said he wants to send a message to everyone that crime in the golf cart paths will not be tolerated. I will be asking for the maximum penalty when he is convicted, Murray said. Criminals live and visit the area, Murray said, so he urges residents to take caution when they jog. If you run at night, run in pairs, Murray said. Dont wear headphones because they can obstruct your hearing. Murray also urged runners to vary their routines to throw a would be assailant off.
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