A Lakeland High football player has been arrested

POLK COUNTY (Bay News 9) — A Lakeland High football player has been arrested and charged with raping a female student. According to the Lakeland Police Department, the 16-year-old athlete was arrested at his home early Friday morning. He has been charged with sexual battery, which is a second-degree felony. On Thursday, a Lakeland High female student reported the rape to the school resource officer. She said it happened at a location less than a block from the high school, according to officials. The girl said she knew the suspect and that they had “talked and kissed” before, according to officials. According to reports, the girl said the boy had led her to a secluded place, and they began kissing. She said that he began touching her despite her pleas for him to stop, but that he kept going, eventually raping her. Lakeland Police officers came to the school, collected evidence and transported the girl to a rape crisis center for further examination. Authorities said the girl identified the suspect, who was taken for questioning. Police said the suspect later confessed, and that the girl had said no but that he forced himself on her anyway. Bay News 9 attempted to contact school officials for comment, but no one was available.

~ by thebravoshow on October 3, 2009.