BA Police Make Arrest In 2007 Abduction And Rape Of 5-Year-Old Girl

NewsOn6.com

BROKEN ARROW, OK -- Broken Arrow Police have made an arrest in the abduction case of a 5-year-old girl who became known as the "Broken Arrow Angel."

In September of 2007, a naked and bleeding 5-year-old girl was found in a rural area of Wagoner County. Investigators say she had been abducted from her home, assaulted and left there.

At that time, Broken Arrow Police conducted numerous searches and released a sketch of the attacker.  They received more than 1,600 tips in the case, but never made an arrest in the case until now.

At a news conference Thursday, police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Douglas Harold Polk, Jr.  

"I am extremely confident that this is our man," said Major Carole Newell of the Broken Arrow Police Department.

12/7/2007 Related story: Retired Officers Take On Rape Case

It's an announcement Broken Arrow Police have been waiting to make for two and a half years. They say 32-year-old Douglas Polk is responsible for a crime that has weighed heavily on the hearts of the entire city.

The detective handling the interrogation was the lead investigator in the "Angel" case.

According to a police report, the break came last Friday when police arrested Polk for violating a protective order.  They say after his arrest an 11-year-old relative told police Polk had raped her, both recently and several years ago.

Police say Polk confessed to those crimes, then later to the Broken Arrow Angel assault.

Broken Arrow Police Major Carole Newell said at the news conference that a lot of the credit for the break in the case goes to a member of the Norman Police Department.  Newell said that officer drew the sketch of the suspect, which she said bears a strong resemblance to the suspect's mug shot.

Major Newell said the family of the rape victim is relieved that an arrest has finally been made.

Polk was booked on first degree rape, kidnapping, domestic assault and battery, and violating a protective order. The Tulsa County District Attorney's office says charges may be filed as early as next week.

Police say Polk's name was mentioned early in the investigation, but there was not enough evidence to arrest him until now.

Polk has a criminal record in Tulsa County.  He pleaded guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in November of 2006 for which he received a 3-year suspended sentence.

On Friday, April 16th, a judge granted a protective order against Polk on behalf of Polk's wife and four children.