Children and teens at risk near abandoned buildings, homes

 SHREVEPORT, LA - Carol Forsloff - With
the rise in foreclosures and more and more abandoned buildings comes
the risk of criminals taking over them for hiding or predators finding
places from which they can launch an attack, as happened to a teenage
girl in Shreveport on Friday morning.

According to a police report an

African American 13-year-old female was the victim of a sexual assault
with the report made at approximately 7 a.m.

Officers
responded to the location and observed the suspect running from an
abandoned residence on foot but apprehended him moments later.

The juvenile victim was transported to Willis Knighton Pierremont for treatment.

Based
on the investigation and interview with the suspect, Phillip Johnson, a
28-year-old African American male, was charged with Aggravated Rape,
Aggravated Kidnapping, and Resisting.

Those
groups who seek to protect children and adolescents from predators
stress the fact they should not walk near abandoned buildings, because
these are places where individuals can hide and lure or capture
unsuspecting victims.

Attorneys
observe that
in instances like these, where an attack has taken place, the
manager/owner has the responsibility of warning if the premises have
been occupied by a predator or have involved criminal activity.