Man charged with kidnapping Middletown girl

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (WPRI) - Middletown police confirmed Friday they are investigating the reported abduction and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. Now, a man is in custody charged with the crime.

The victim told police she was abducted in the area of West Main Rd. and Forest Ave. sometime overnight Thursday, assaulted and eventually left in New Bedford.

Later that morning, the girl flagged down two teachers on their way to school and told them she'd been kidnapped, According the New Bedford School Superintendent Portia Bonner.

Through a joint effort with New Bedford and Middletown police, officers in Newport spotted the suspect's vehicle and arrested him.

Lawrence Clay, 35, of Providence has been charged with kidnapping a minor and bringing her across state lines. He was arraigned Friday afternoon and held without bail.

Police say it appears Clay sexually assaulted the girl in Massachusetts. No word on what charges he could be facing in that state.

Early Friday, Middletown's school superintendent said he hadn't heard anything about the kidnapping investigation. However, he did say there reports in recent weeks of a car driving slowly near Forest Ave. Elementary School.