A West Lafayette man, identified as 21-year-old Vincent F. Lembo, was arrested on charges relating to sexual assault late last week, authorities say. The West Lafayette Police Department (WLPD) responded to a call shortly before midnight on Friday, February 21, with officers arriving at the 100 block of South River Road to address the report. According to FOX59, upon their arrival, they spoke with an adult female victim who claimed she had been sexually assaulted.
The woman's harrowing account led officers to commence an immediate search for the suspect. It was in the ensuing investigation that WLPD were quickly able to identify and subsequently locate Lembo around 9:50 PM the following Saturday. It was reported by WLFI that he was then arrested and taken to Tippecanoe County Jail. Lembo has been preliminarily charged with two counts of rape and one count of criminal confinement.
Details concerning the alleged assault come to piece together a grave sequence of events that took place near State Street, an area familiar and trafficked by many. In a policy reflective of its ethical practices, WTHR has opted not to name the suspect until formal charges are fully realized. They note, however, in their coverage that Lembo was arrested on preliminary charges that include both felonies.
Lembo is currently being held at the Tippecanoe County Jail where he awaits a final charging decision. The process, which is made to be painstakingly thorough to ensure justice is accurately pursued, could potentially lead to serious consequences for the accused. According to information obtained by WTHR, the suspect was arrested on preliminary charges before decisive legal action has yet to firmly place him before the stand of judgment.
