A man is behind bars after police say he hit an 11-year-old girl with his car, then sexually assaulted her while she was walking to a Memphis middle school around 7 a.m. Monday.
Larry Ward, 20, is charged with rape of a child, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault.
The attack happened a little more than a mile away from Geeter Middle School.
The child was taken to the hospital after the incident but has since been released. FOX13 talked with a Memphis Light, Gas and Water worker Cameron Fifer who was on a job in the area shortly after the attack.
He said, “I passed by this girl and she's sitting on the ground crying.” Fifer said the victim was so shaken up she could barely talk.
"She's like yeah, he hit me with his truck and then he proceeded to rape me," Fifer said.
Prior to Ward's arrest police told us their top priority is catching the suspect and they have a warning for all parents.
Lt. Col. Gregory Sanders said, "Always if you can, take your kids to school or walk in pairs."
During the initial search for the suspect officers described Ward as a black man in his 30’s with dreads.
Police said Ward was possibly driving a compact, dark-colored Kia Sorrento or Hyundai Tucson with the driver side rear light broken.
Meanwhile, Shelby County Schools leaders said on Monday, they sent a call out to the parents in the area telling them what happened and have requested extra support from Memphis police.
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