A teenager is recovering after being attacked in an alley Monday night in Roanoke.
Police say officers being in the right place at the right time, made all the difference in this case.
Police are crediting timing, training and teamwork for catching the suspect in this case.
Roanoke City Officers were responding to another call when this one landed at their feet.
Sergeant Jason Hicks made his way down Mountain Avenue toward 5th Street following the sounds Monday night.
“It's dark. It's raining outside. It's drizzling, four very loud distinct screams from what I believed to be a female. And like I said. I moved in on foot to investigate,” Hicks said. “I heard what appeared to be footsteps in some leaves, then I observed a black male wearing dark clothing exit between the east side of this house right here.”
Hicks says the suspect, Jamelle Banks, never looked his way as he ran from the scene.
Soon after, Hicks announced his presence.
“As we were running toward 5th street on Mountain Avenue, he tossed an item from his right hand that made some loud banging on the sidewalk, I pulled up to check what that was and that's when I found a black in color folding knife with the blade deployed, the blade opened,” Hicks said.
After a short chase and help from another officer, Hicks says they were able to arrest the suspect.
“It wasn't until then, that numerous citizen especially those of patrons of Sunnyside market said those screams were the cries of a female juvenile who had been attacked in an alley,” Hicks said.
A K-9 unit was also brought in and found an air soft toy pistol which the victim had referenced several times.
Banks is in jail, charged with abduction and aggravated sexual battery.
Jamelle Banks was convicted of similar charges of attempted abduction by force and use of a firearm in commission of an abduction back in 2009.
