Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: March 17, 2003

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former officer arrested

Shreveport detectives today arrested Fredrick Harris, an officer who was terminated last month for violation of departmental rules and regulations.

Harris turned himself in late this afternoon after the Caddo Parish Grand Jury returned a five-count indictment against him.

He is charged with one count of forcible rape, two counts of public bribery, one count of malfeasance in office and one count of molestation of a juvenile.

The charges against Harris stem from two incidents he allegedly committed while on patrol.

The latest incident occurred on Jan. 16 about 11 a.m. when Harris stopped a vehicle at Ford and Allen streets. The female driver had two warrants for her arrest for traffic violations. She also was driving with no insurance, so the vehicle’s license plate was seized.

Harris took the 25-year-old Shreveport woman into custody and drove her to the jail. Before taking her inside, he allegedly told her he was going to act as her "bail bondsman" and drove her to the 700 block of Peabody. He reportedly took $200 from her and then drove her back to her vehicle.

Her vehicle was gone, so he drove the woman to a lot in the 100 block of Pete Harris where he allegedly forced her to have sex. He then took the woman to her home in the 2900 block of Jackson Street, where she told her boyfriend about the incident.

It is believed that Harris attempted to bribe the boyfriend by asking for money in exchange for the seized license plate.

Detectives with the SPD Sex Crimes Unit recovered money that was suspected to be taken from the woman, as well as other evidence from Harris’ patrol vehicle.

The second incident reportedly occurred in July 2002 and involved a 14-year-old girl who was being transported from the Johnny Gray Jones Youth Shelter to her house. Harris allegedly pulled his car next to a vacant building in the 1200 block of Grimmett Drive and attempted to have sex with her. The attempt was unsuccessful, and Harris drove the girl home.

Harris worked for the police department 3½ years before he was terminated Feb. 20.

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