CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Detectives with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Sexual Assault unit have charged 30-year-old Travis Lamont Blakley for his involvement in two cases.
During the investigation, detectives received information regarding a suspect name. Once they identified him, they saw he had an outstanding warrant.
Detectives with the Targeted Response and Apprehension Unit located and arrested Blakley on December 7 for the unrelated felony probation warrant. He was then transported to police headquarters and interviewed by Sexual Assault Detectives.
After the interview, Blakley was charged with first degree attempted rape, first degree kidnapping, armed robbery, assault by strangulation and common law robbery. He was transported to the Mecklenburg County Jail.
CMPD released surveillance pictures of the suspect. The ordeal began while the 22-year-old was at an ATM in Park Road Shopping Center early Friday morning.
Police said the masked man also took the woman's car; it was found Sunday off Remount Road.
“He forced himself inside her car, drove to another location, where he attempted to sexually assault her,” said Lt. Muriel Hughes with CMPD.
Through a struggle, she was able to get away. However, police said the same suspect went after an Uber driver an hour earlier a couple streets away on Montford Drive.
“The suspect approached her and got inside the vehicle; she realized he was not the fare she was there to pick up,” said Lt. Hughes.
Police said he took the Uber driver’s car keys and cell phone and then he left.
“She was not sexually assaulted nor was her car stolen,” said Lt. Hughes.
Shoppers said they won't relax until the suspect is in custody.
“I’d be concerned that the person was apprehended,” said one shopper.
“(I) feel so safe; I would never think anything like that would happen,” said another shopper.
CMPD said they are stepping up patrols in the area to make people feel safer. They also offered some tips:
- Please keep your car doors locked
- Park and try to do conduct your business in well-lit and well-traveled areas
- Always be aware of your surroundings
- If you don’t have to, don’t go to the ATM alone, particularly at night
- If possible, don’t shop alone at night
- If you feel unsafe walking to your car, ask a security guard or police officer to walk with you
If you have any information about either of these cases, call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
NBC Charlotte's Alex Shabad contributed to this report.
