Cops: Man raped unconscious woman, thought she was dead

Posted: Jul 01, 2011 3:58 AM CDT Updated: Jul 01, 2011 8:18 AM CDT



KANSAS CITY, MO (WDAF/CNN) - A Kansas City, MO man is facing felony sexual assault charges after police say he raped a woman while she was unconscious on a city sidewalk in broad daylight.



"I've been a prosecutor for a long time, so you kind of get to the point where not a lot surprises you," said Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. "The defendant's statement in this case is troubling."



Melvin Jackson is charged with a felony count of sexual assault.



Police say the victim was walking with a friend near 34th and Troost when she became dizzy and sat down, then passed out. A short time later, a man ran over to a nearby business and said someone was being assaulted outside.



"There were witnesses that saw this happening, and they stepped up and they reported it," Baker said. "They gave help to this woman."



A woman from the business ran out and saw the victim lying on the ground. She told police she saw Jackson sexually assaulting her with his pants and underwear around his ankles. The woman told investigators she screamed at Jackson, who then pulled up his pants and walked away.



A police car happened to be driving by and was flagged down; the officer called an ambulance and detained Jackson.



When Jackson was asked by an officer why his pants were unzipped, he said he thought the lady was dead, according to police.



"This is a new one, this is not one that I've seen come through," Baker said.



Jackson is in jail on a $70,000 cash-only bond.