By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

A suspect in the attempted rape of a minor was arrested Wednesday morning.

Earnest J. Parker, 46, was arrested and charged with kidnapping first degree and attempted rape first degree, for a crime involving a 15-year-old female in the 1400 block of Washington Avenue.

Parker is being held on a $250,000 bond for each charge.

“On Aug. 23 in the afternoon, we had a 15-year-old black female who was walking home from school, and as she was walking, she was approached by a black male who placed a knife to her throat and forced her behind an abandoned residence,” Selma chief of police William T. Riley said.

Riley said Parker then attempted to cut off the girl’s clothes, at which point the girl began to fight back and an unknown person showed up helped her to fend off her attacker.

“An unknown black female, we don’t know who she is, came and gave some assistance and helped the 15-year-old,” Riley said. “This unknown female struck the suspect, which helped allow the young girl to get away. Once she was able to free herself from the suspect, she ran home and told her mother, who then notified the police.”

Riley said the victim is doing fine and has no major injuries.
Riley said neither the victim nor the police know the identity of the female who helped the victim escape, but he would like to thank her for her actions.

“We would definitely like to thank her for helping the juvenile,” Riley said. “That’s what’s needed, period, in the community, for people in the community to look out for these kids as they go to and from school. We would love to know who she is just to recognize her and say thank you to her.”

Riley said the police department is also doing its part to make sure attacks like these don’t happen to students.

Riley said officers who are not already on a call are encouraged to drive around schools to make sure the students are safe.