Kentucky man accused of impersonating officer, trying to rape woman in vehicle
Three months after a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in her car by a man she initially thought was an officer, a Keavy man has been arrested.
Walter Earl Darling, 46, was charged Monday. Darling is not an officer but allegedly impersonated one before attempting to rape the victim, according to the sheriff’s office.
The woman told police she was traveling Sept. 4 on Ky. 192 about 3 miles west of London, according to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. Darling came up behind her at a high rate of speed, rode her bumper and activated his vehicle’s red and white flashing lights, the sheriff said.
When the woman pulled to the side of the road, Darling allegedly jumped in her back seat armed with a large hunting knife, according to the sheriff. Darling made the woman pull onto a county road and into a large hayfield, where he attempted to sexually assault her, the sheriff’s office said.
Darling allegedly made the victim drive back onto Ky. 192 and forced her to stop along the road, where he got out to make a phone call, according to the sheriff. When Darling exited the vehicle, she sped away and drove herself to St. Joseph Hospital London.
The sheriff’s office said the woman positively identified Darling Monday and he confessed.
In a press release, Sheriff John Root said his office “has worked tirelessly on this case and wants to reassure the public that ... investigators wanted the victim and all Laurel Countians to feel safe as they shop and go about their normal daily routines.”
Darling, who was also arrested on Thanksgiving on a shoplifting charge, was charged with attempted rape, attempted sodomy, unlawful imprisonment and impersonating a peace officer. He was taken to the Laurel County Correctional Center.
The vehicle Darling was driving, described as a silver or dark gray passenger car, has not been recovered.
According to WKYT, more arrests are expected in the case.
This story was originally published December 3, 2019 at 8:07 AM.