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Myers Park sex assault suspect connected to third case, police say

By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com and Tina Terry, wsoctv.com
By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com and Tina Terry, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The suspect accused in an alleged sexual assault and attempted kidnapping in Myers Park has been charged with a rape and kidnapping from May, police said.

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Larry Jerome Bailey was accused of assaulting a teen in a Myers Park neighborhood last week.

Police said Bailey was found and taken into custody after allegedly attacking another woman early Friday morning while she jogged in Dilworth.

Officers said the woman was jogging on East Boulevard near Cleveland Avenue around 6 a.m. when Bailey drove up, got out of his car and grabbed and fondled her.

The victim immediately called 911 and a short time later two CMPD officers spotted the car and took Bailey into custody.

Police said Bailey confessed to the attack, as well as the attack on a teen in Myers Park earlier this week.

He was served with the new warrants this week from a reported rape and kidnapping in May.

Channel 9 was told that the woman who had been kidnapped and raped at gunpoint in May saw Bailey after his recent arrest and identified him as the man who had attacked her.

Larry Jerome Bailey was accused of assaulting a teen in a Myers Park neighborhood last week.

Police said Bailey was found and taken into custody after allegedly attacking another woman early Friday morning while she jogged in Dilworth.

Officers said the woman was jogging on East Boulevard near Cleveland Avenue around 6 a.m. when Bailey drove up, got out of his car and grabbed and fondled her.

The victim immediately called 911 and a short time later two CMPD officers spotted the car and took Bailey into custody.

Police said Bailey confessed to the attack, as well as the attack on a teen in Myers Park earlier this week.

He was served with the new warrants this week from a reported rape and kidnapping in May.

That attack happened on Ellen Avenue off West Tyvola Road in west Charlotte.

It was different than the other attacks in that it happened around 9 p.m., but the report suggests that it also happened outside along the street somewhere.

That would fit the pattern of the other two cases.

Channel 9 was in uptown last week as officers escorted Bailey into CMPD headquarters. He could be heard saying "I love you, mom" as he was led into the building.

Police said Bailey sexually assaulted a teenage girl and tried to kidnap her around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday on Briarcliff Place in Myers Park.

Neighbors said the girl was walking home when she was attacked.

Bailey, 21, inappropriately touched the girl and attempted to restrain her against her will, claiming he had a weapon, police said.

Neighbors said the victim didn't yell because the suspect may have been armed. She managed to break free from the man though and called 911, according to neighbors.

The girl did not know her assailant, police said.

“Most people think this is a safe neighborhood,” said one resident who did not want to be identified. “You have nice houses, beautiful tree-lined streets, but there is no safe place.”

Channel 9 checked and in the last six months, police records show there have been zero violent crimes within a half-mile of Briarcliff Place.

“I have a 15-year-old and in the last few weeks, I didn't let her go run after 8:30 (p.m.) without the dogs, because you never know what's going to happen,” resident Selina Mellen said.

City Councilwoman Julie Eiselt lives in Myers Park and said the community was on edge for several days, but the concern reaches beyond one neighborhood.

“It's very concerning, we're trying to make this a walkable city,” Eiselt said. “To have someone sexually assault you is awful.”

Bailey is in the Mecklenburg County Jail facing a long list of charges, including sexual battery and sex offense.

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