FROM CHIEF P.K. JOHNSON
MILLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT
On Sunday, February 26, the Millbrook Police Department received a complaint of possible sexual abuse that occurred between an adult male and juvenile female. The case was immediately forwarded to a detective with the department’s Criminal Investigative Unit and the Department of Human Resources was notified of the circumstances.
Both the Millbrook Police Department and representatives from the Alabama Department of Human Resources responded to the residence, where the alleged offense took place. Contact was made with the alleged offender, who agreed to cooperate with investigators. Pursuant to the preliminary investigation, the alleged offender, Douglas R. Sims Jr., a 40-year-old Deatsville resident, was placed under arrest, being charged with (3) counts of Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree. Sims was transported to the Elmore County Jail, where he remains under no bound pending warrants being obtained and served.
This case involves a juvenile and is of a sexual nature. That said, there is very little that I can or will comment on at this time. As soon as we received this complaint, our investigators and the Department of Human Resources were notified. We were able to make contact with both the victim and the alleged offender in this case rather quickly. At the conclusion of our preliminary investigation our investigator determined that we had more than enough probable cause to charge the alleged offender, so he was placed under arrest and placed in the Elmore County Jail. This case remains under investigation.
Cases like this keep you awake at night and make you hold you children and grandchildren closer to you. As a veteran of 35 years in law enforcement, you understand the need to have the ability to numb or distance yourself. You can’t see the things that we see or hear what we hear during the course of our duties and go about your daily life with family and friends, as if things like this don’t occur. That said, some things are you’re not able to compartmentalize. No one wants to believe things like this occur in their community.
Most people want to believe it happens elsewhere. The unfortunate truth is that things like this do happen. When they do, someone has to investigate, someone has to make sure that the victim receives the necessary assistance and care after the fact, and someone has to prosecute those who are alleged to have committed these types of crimes. That’s where we are at in this case.
While it’s unfortunate that things happen, I’m extremely proud to work alongside people that are highly trained and dedicated to work these cases and help get justice for the victims and prosecute those responsible.
