Posted on 02/21/2007 9:32:46 AM PST by abb
Published: Feb 21, 2007 11:07 AM Modified: Feb 21, 2007 11:12 AM
Warrant reveals details in rape case By Anne Blythe, Staff Writer
DURHAM - The woman who told police she was sexually assaulted at an off-campus Duke party earlier this month broke down in tears after emerging from the bathroom and immediately recounted the incident to a friend, according to a search warrant. The accuser, according to the warrant, had danced with the suspect at the party organized by members of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
When she went to use the bathroom around 3 a. m., and, according to police and the warrant, the suspect came in behind the accuser and closed the door.
"Once inside of the bathroom," the warrant application said, "the suspect forced her to the ground causing her to hit her head on the sink, he then sexually assaulted her."
Michael Jermaine Burch, 21, of 322 Junction Road, Durham, was charged on Monday with second-degree rape. He was released from the Durham County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
The arrest came eight days after Durham investigators were called to 405 Gattis St. early Feb. 11.
A search warrant, filed in Durham County Court late Tuesday, reveals details that led investigators to their suspect.
The document also provides a glimpse of a college party that had an invitation list of about 300 people posted on facebook.com.
After the 18-year-old Duke freshman emerged from the bathroom of the duplex several blocks from Duke's West and East Campuses, her friend had her sit in a car outside the party while she tried to gather more information, the document says.
The friend went back inside the duplex. One of the partygoers, a student at Durham Technical Community College, identified the suspect as "Chris," the document says.
On Feb. 16, investigators picked up the Durham Tech student and gave him a ride to a police substation. The investigators learned there, according to the documents, that the suspect played basketball at Wilson Gym most Saturdays.
With that information, police were able to track down another regular at Wilson Gym. That contact led them to the suspect and the Brentwood Apartment Complex at 322 Junction Road, where the suspect lived.
Staff writer Anne Blythe can be reached at 932-8741 or ablythe@newsobserver.com.
Ping
I still think it's wrong to release the names of suspects while shielding accusers. This is a typical rape case and it's probably OK, but as we saw before, that practice should be reviewed in the future.
"The friend went back inside the duplex. One of the partygoers, a student at Durham Technical Community College, identified the suspect as "Chris," the document says."
A partygoer identified Michael Jermaine Burch as "Chris."
Isn't that a FAKE NAME?
Someone alert Cash Michaels and the NC NAACP!
I wonder if she was given a photo line-up?
I wonder if the DA will push the SBI lab to get the results back post-haste?
She was only allowed to view Duke athletes. LOL!
This one kind of looks like a sure thing, what with the police going out all on their lonesome and making an arrest without an indictment.
The Durham DA will issue arrest warrants against all men named Chris, and bring them in as suspects. :-)
LMAO
Let me put this post and link here too then. To me it is much bigger news in the Duke lacrosse case:
The second event of DA appreciation week is being reported:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=triangle&id=5053714
"Eyewitness News has learned among other witnesses in the case, Nifong has met with the special prosecutors at the Attorney General's Office. A spokeswoman for the Attorney General declined to comment on the details of the meeting, but confirms the discussion took place within the past week."
Holy copy-cats, Batman, what's up with that?
I would love to have been a fly on the wall for THAT meeting!
I hypothesized that Nifong likely had his lawyer with him. What I wonder is did Nifong refuse to cooperate?
They can not have been questioning him about the case agaist Evans, Finnerty nor Seligmann. He was not a witness in that case. He has no first hand knowledge about the events of that night. So they must be interviewing him about his actions?
Background.
No excuse for calling in the Rev'runnn Jackuhsunn to race-pimp on this one...
from your link to the fraternity's site:
#1 Antwone Floyd s.k.a. Hard Knock Life
#2 Devon Clarke s.k.a. Ready 2 Die
#3 Shawn Jones s.k.a. The Blueprint
#4 Alejandro Torres Hernandez s.k.a. Illmatic
#5 Michael Reed s.k.a. The Chronic
looks more like a gang than a fraternity.
From your lips to ....
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