Man arrested for impersonating officer to try to rape woman

ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) - Anderson Police say they've arrested a man accused of impersonating a police officer and trying to rape a woman.

APD arrested Terry Lee Duckworth, 67, Tuesday night. Police arrested him on three felony counts including attempted rape, battery and criminal deviate conduct.

Police say the attack happened in July when the woman says she met a man while walking near the Meridian Street Park downtown. She was with her one-year-old in a stroller.

The charging documents allege he told her he was a police officer and struck up a conversation with her. They talked as she walked back to her home. As they approached her home, he asked her if she wanted money. She became alarmed at what he was offering and broke off the conversation.

Police say he forced his way in and attacked her. Before he left, they say he threatened that he'd arrest her if she did not cooperate. The child was not harmed.

"Part of his scheme is he identified himself to his victims as a police officer. He identified himself as an Anderson Police Officer and told them if they would perform certain sexual acts, he would let them go" said Anderson Police Detective Joel Sandefur.

She reported her allegation to Anderson Police who say they are investigating at least one other report of a similar claim. Police say the woman attacked in July picked Duckworth out of a photo lineup. A detective recognized Duckworth as the man from the description.

Police believe there may be more victims and are urging anyone who may have been attacked to contact them.

"What we think is there may be more victims afraid to come forward because they think he was a police officer. We want to get the message out that this guy is not a cop" said Sandefur.

Prison records show Duckworth was released from prison in April 2011 from prison after serving time for a 2007 arrest on intimidation. 

Our partners at the Anderson Herald Bulletin reported in 2007 that Duckworth was arrested for threatening to kill neighbors in the Southwood Trailer Park.  He was charged then with intimidation and resisting law enforcement. 

Anderson police Detective Joel Sandefur confirmed Wednesday that Duckworth had also faced charges for a 1979 murder.  He was found not guilty of killing 20-year old Pamela Sue Boles.  He'd fled to Florida before trial but was arrested and returned to Indiana.  The jury eventually found him not guilty of that murder.