DEMOPOLIS &045; The rape and statutory rape that were reported on consecutive days Monday and Tuesday of last week are under investigation by the police department.

Public Safety Director Jeff Manuel said that in order to protect the victims and refrain from hindering the ongoing investigations few specifics of the cases could be released. He said the two cases are unrelated.

The department has arrested a suspect in the first case, which was a reported rape that occurred Jan. 21 on Roman Drive. Patrick Lawson, 18, of 1227 Roman Drive in Demopolis, was arrested and charged with first-degree rape last Thursday.

Manuel said Lawson could have been a family friend or neighbor to the victim and there was no forced entry into the dwelling. He said Lawson is facing no other charges at this time.

A statutory rape was reported to the department on Jan. 22.

Manuel said he couldn’t give the age of the minor. He said the rape was not one of a consenting minor and the victim was to young for the crime to classify as rape II, which involves a minor between the ages of 13 and 16 years old.