Man Charged In Rape Of 11-Year-Old Highland Park Girl Walking To School
HIGHLAND PARK (WWJ/AP) - A 24-year-old man has been arraigned in the sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl as she walked to school in Highland Park — an attack that angered the community and led to a door-to-door effort to solve the crime.
A judge on Thursday ordered 24-year-old Ramirez Dewberry jailed without bond on first-degree criminal sexual conduct and other charges.
He was arrested Wednesday in Jackson while riding a Greyhound bus to Detroit from Chicago.
In an emotional entreaty to reporters at the 30th District Court Thursday, his sister — who goes by the name So'Le — said Dewberry did not do it.
"He changed my life; he made me believe in myself. He made people, everyone he encountered believe in themself (sic). No way...no way! "So'Le shouted, through tears. "All of his poetry was about people coming together, people being uplifted. All he wanted to do is set the generation for younger kids to lead in a positive way.
According to police, the girl was grabbed on Wednesday, Dec. 10 between 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., as she walked along Church St. in the area of McNichols and John R. Police said the attacker dragged the child at gunpoint into an abandoned home where he sexually assaulted her.
According to Highland Park Police Chief Kevin Coney, tips led to Dewberry's arrest.
The Rev. Malik Shabazz gives credit to an "unbeatable coalition" of police, volunteers, clergy and news media; and officials praised the young victim for giving "an outstanding description" of the suspect, which aided in efforts tracking him down.
So'Le believes her brother, who has a child on the way, is being framed.
"If you look at the description, the description is a bald man, he has an acne-scarred face, he has a goatee, and the description says he has a raspy voice. My brother has a deep, strong, heavy voice, his skin is smooth, he has barely any facial hair, he has long, kinky hair. That doesn't match anything that's in the description!" So'Le said.
So'Le said her brother — who authorities have described as homeless — may be guilty of being a squatter, however: "He would never rape a girl; he would never do that," she said.
A defense attorney is expected to be assigned to Dewberry. A hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 20.
