A man was arrested Monday in Charlotte, charged with sexually assaulting an acquaintance near a Smithfield park.
Police were called to Smith Collins Park on the evening of Dec. 13 where they talked to the victim, but the suspect had already left.
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They tracked William Takeo Sturdivant to Charlotte and arrested him Dec. 29, charging him with forcible sex offense, kidnapping, assault by strangulation, sexual battery and domestic violence.
James Gathers, pastor at Community Outreach Ministry near the park told WRAL News that Sturdivant had attended services at his church and lived nearby.
"Shocked when I saw it, because of the fact that I knew him," Gathers said. "I thought he was working. We even tried to help him get a job."
Gathers said the charges were surprising because of where the crime allegedly happened: at a park he said is just steps away from a middle school.
"My heart goest out to whoever it was, because that's a dangerous thing," Gathers.
Police said that given the nature of the offense, there may be other victims. They asked that anyone with information about the Dec. 13 attack or who may have had a similar encounter call Det. K. Smith at 919-934-2121.