CLEVELAND -- Walter L. Jackson, 63, of North Olmsted pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of kidnapping, four counts of rape and two counts of felonious assault in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in connection with crimes against an 18-year-old Cleveland woman on Aug. 10.
Prosecutors said Jackson approached the girl at 2 p.m. at West 58th Street and Madison Avenue and asked if she needed a ride. The girl got in Jackson's van, and they went to the parking lot at Don's Lighthouse.
Jackson reportedly bound her legs, put handcuffs on her, gagged her mouth, struck her in the head with a blunt object and engaged in sex, said Ryan Miday, spokesman for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office.
Jackson then drove to West 46th Street and Train Avenue, where the girl escaped while still bound, gagged and naked. Jackson tried to get her but was spotted by several witnesses.
Miday said Jackson returned to the van and drove away, but a witness followed him in a car and used his OnStar system to contact police. He followed him to Rocky River, where police arrested Jackson on Wooster Road.
Jackson is being held in jail on $250,000 bail. Miday said Jackson has a conviction for felonious assault in 2000. A pretrial date has not yet been scheduled.