Man arrested for raping girl on her way to school, deputies say

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. – A South Florida man is facing multiple charges after he kidnapped and raped at least one girl in Lauderdale Lakes while she was walking to school, authorities said.

Kevin Smith, 50, of Pompano Beach, was arrested Tuesday on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault on a minor.

The incident was reported Friday in the 3200 block of Northwest 41st Street.

According to an arrest report, the girl was walking to school when Smith grabbed her, forced her into his vehicle at knifepoint and raped her.

He told the girl to get out of his car after the rape and told her not to look back, deputies said.

Smith allegedly tried to kidnap a second girl Monday in the 3400 block of Northwest 41st Street.

Deputies said the child was walking to school just before 8 a.m. when Smith grabbed her.

Deputies said the girl fought back, struck him over the head with her cellphoe and ran away after a brief struggle.

"She did what she could do and what she did was fight," Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said. "She was out in the open and used what she could do to get away."

The girl told detectives that she looked back at one point and saw that Smith was holding a large knife.

Detectives spotted a car that matched the description given by the girls Tuesday in the area of Northwest 41st Street and 31st Avenue, near the locations where both attacks occurred.

Smith was taken into custody.

Smith's family said they were dismayed by the allegations and disappointed in their loved one. 

"He called last night," Ivory McCall said about his uncle. "He said he didn't do it, man." 

McCall said he believes his uncle, but does apologize to the family "if he did do it."

"If he did it, he deserves whatever comes with it. And if he didn't,  then God will get him out of there," McCall said.  

Authorities said this is Smith's ninth arrest since 2000. He is being held on a $300,000 bond.

The girls' ages were not released.

BSO said there could be other victims. 

"We just need other women to have the same courage that these two young girls had to come forward and provide as many details as they can," Concepcion said. 

Anyone who believes they or their children were victims of Smith is asked to call detectives at 954-321-4240 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.