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Thursday, November 15, 2007

Rape victim's phone gives cops break they need

Please click onto the COMMENTS for the story.

posted by Bob at Thursday, November 15, 2007

2 Comments:

Blogger Bob said...

Call on stolen cell leads to St. Paul neighbor; he's charged, bail set at $200,000
BY EMILY GURNON and MARA H. GOTTFRIED
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 11/13/2007 11:46:31 PM CST


George Allen Walker allegedly raped a St. Paul teen in her home, stole her cell phone and then used it to invite her sister to a party, authorities say.

That was his undoing.

The sister called police, who surrounded the house where the party was being held and arrested Walker.

Walker, 19, was charged Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in the rape of a 17-year-old girl in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood.

The girl told police she was at home in the 600 block of Jessamine Avenue about 4:50 p.m. Nov. 7 when she heard a knock. Thinking it might be her father, she opened the door. A stranger put his foot in the door and forced his way in.

According to the criminal complaint:

The man, wearing black baseball-type gloves, a light-blue jacket and a blue baseball cap, grabbed the girl by the neck and told her to take her pants off. "Please don't hurt me," she said, again and again. But the man struck her on the left cheek, forced her onto a bed and sexually assaulted her.

She told police she tried to call 911 on her cell phone when the man first came in, but he took the phone from her and left with it. He said that if she told anyone what had happened, he would come back and kill her or hurt other people in her house.

The victim also told police she had seen the same man about 4:30 that afternoon at the home across the alley from her. The man, she said, was watching her house.

That address, on Payne Avenue, is where Walker lives.
Police found a black-and-white batting glove on the sidewalk just north of Walker's house. On its palm was what appeared to be makeup and glitter, similar to that worn by the victim.

In canvassing the neighborhood, police talked to a man identified by his initials, T.W., at Walker's address who described Walker as his boyfriend. T.W. gave police a baby-blue jacket matching the one described by the victim. He also told them he had seen a cell phone in the jacket pocket that appeared to belong to a woman.

But what seemingly helped clinch the case was a phone call.

The rape victim's sister notified police one night that a man was calling her from her sister's cell phone, asking if she wanted to come to a house party.

Call back and get directions, police told the sister.

The man gave the girl an address, 518 Farrington Ave. N. Police surrounded the house and found Walker inside, holding the cell phone and wearing a blue baseball cap, the complaint said. He had the other baseball glove with him.

On Tuesday, police said they believe Walker randomly called a number programmed into the phone and did not know the victim or her sister.

When questioned, Walker first told police he had been present at the rape but that a companion named "Michael" had done it. He later allegedly admitted he had gone to the victim's house to rob her but ended up raping her when she couldn't find any money.

The victim went to Regions Hospital for a sexual assault exam. Police are awaiting results of tests to see if DNA from the victim matches Walker's.

St. Paul police haven't released Walker's mug shot. On Tuesday, they said they still were using it in photo lineups.

Walker was being held Tuesday at the Ramsey County jail on $200,000 bail.

Two days before Walker's arrest, his roommate, Ty Williams, had tried to contact police by calling 911 twice to report his suspicions, but he was directed to voice mail, he told the Pioneer Press.

Ramsey County director of emergency communications Scott Williams, who is not related to Ty Williams, said Tuesday that officials checked recordings made during the time Ty Williams said he called.

Two people called with information about the rape during that time - one was female and one was male, Scott Williams said. They don't know whether the male caller was Ty Williams, because he didn't identify himself, Scott Williams said.

The caller said something along the lines of, "I have information about the case I read in the paper," Scott Williams said.

"There was no sense of urgency about the call at all," he said. "He was given the number for the (St. Paul police) sex crimes unit and told to call that number. He acknowledged it and ended the call without any complaint or concern or requesting to see a squad. There's really nothing at this point to indicate the call was mishandled in any way from our end."

Contacted again Tuesday, Ty Williams said he's positive he called 911 twice between 12:05 and 12:35 p.m. Thursday. The first time, he said, he was transferred to the sex crimes unit and rang through to voice mail. The second time, he said, he called back and was told he had to call sex crimes and leave a message.

"I said, 'I don't have a phone,' " Williams said. " 'I'm at the store.' "

Williams said he didn't leave a message because he thought the information he had was too pressing and he was afraid police would call his house and reach Walker.

Emily Gurnon can be reached at egurnon@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5522. Mara H. Gottfried can be reached at 651-228-5262 or mgottfried@pioneerpress.com.

7:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another example of NHPI not doing there job.Isn't that what Dawkins said when he heard of crime happening in neighborhoods?They didn't code to the max to get this guys housing.

7:57 AM  

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