A Georgia man allegedly broke through a wall into a neighboring apartment before attacking a 15-year-old girl inside and threatening to rape her as two young children were nearby, authorities said.
Obed Reyes, 29, is accused of cutting or breaking a hole through the sheetrock between his closet and a neighboring unit at an apartment complex in Gainesville, Ga., on Aug. 5, according to Gainesville Police.
After entering the apartment, Reyes allegedly grabbed the teenager, threatened to rape her and punched her several times during the assault, police said.
The teen fought back and managed to make it out of the apartment onto the building’s breezeway, where her screams drew the attention of witnesses who called 911 as Reyes allegedly dragged her by the hair.
Officers arrived shortly before 10 p.m., found the assault still unfolding and pulled Reyes off the girl before taking him into custody, police said.
Photos shared by police showed a large hole between the two units. Authorities said Reyes entered through a closet in a room where the teen had been with two younger relatives, ages 5 and 7.
Reyes, who police said allegedly lived at the same apartment complex, was charged with burglary, aggravated assault, attempted rape, kidnapping and two counts of cruelty to children.
He also faces an immigration-related charge in connection with the case. His immigration status was not immediately known.
“I commend the witnesses’ quick response of calling 911 to get our officers there in time to prevent further torment and trauma of the victim,” Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish said. “‘See something, say something’ goes a long way in our community and we are grateful to have a community that looks out for each other.
“Our officers did an excellent job removing a violent criminal off the streets, and that was just the beginning,” he added. “The victim has a long road of recovery ahead following such traumatic events and we hope our community can surround her with that support.”
Reyes is being held without bond at the Hall County Jail, according to court records viewed by The Post.
