WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Police seek man in sexual assault of child

Police seek man in sexual assault of child

By Janelle MacDonald

(LOUISVILLE) -- Police say he's dangerous and on the run -- a Louisville man indicted this week for the violent sexual assault of a ten year old. They need your help to find him. WAVE 3's Janelle MacDonald is investigates.

LMPD Captain Steve Thompson says, "We've got to protect these kids. We're asking you to help us protect these kids."

And if there's anyone kids need protection from, police say it's 45 year old Frank Clarkson, Junior who also goes by Butch.

Crimes Against Children detective Mike Ball says, "He's so violent and we feel that he needs to be picked up. He's a danger to the community and I think we owe that to the victim."

Police says his most recent victim was a ten year old girl -- an acquaintance. They say on January 2nd, Clarkson lured her away from her home.

Ball says, "The victim's understanding is that they would go to a house and he was going to help her paint. He did not take her to that exact house where they were supposed to go."  

Instead, police say Clarkson took the young girl by TARC bus to a home in the west end where he used to live, then raped and beat the child in the abandoned building.

Thompson says, "He made threats that the victim would not be there to prosecute him."

But police say, the girl escaped, ran to a nearby home and called police.

Now, they have an indictment against him for rape, sodomy, kidnapping and criminal abuse but no idea where he is.

Thompson says, "Let's get this man off the street. Let him have his day in court. Let that child have her day in court."

Police have a picture that is less than a year old, but that Clarkson may look different, with more hair. He lives in homeless shelters both in Louisville and Cincinnati.

Thompson says, "This is something that we run into frequently, when people are on the lam they run to those places often to try and blend in and hide from us."

Crimes Against Children detectives have notified area homeless shelters to look out for Clarkson.    They're working on getting his pictures to those places as well.

As for his past, was convicted of two sex abuse charges in the early 80's. They're asking anyone who has seen him recently to call 574-LMPD (5673).

Online Reporter: Janelle MacDonald

Online Producer: Charles Gazaway