A Georgia man is accused of breaking into a neighbor’s apartment by cutting through a wall, attacking a 15-year-old girl inside, and threatening to sexually assault her in front of her two young children.
Obed Reyes, 29, allegedly punched a hole in the sheetrock that separated a closet from the adjoining apartment on August 5 at a Gainesville, Georgia, complex, according to local police.
Once inside, Reyes reportedly assaulted the girl, making threats of rape and hitting her several times. The situation escalated as the children, ages 5 and 7, tried to intervene.
In a brave move, the girl managed to fight off Reyes and escape into the hallway of the building. However, Reyes is said to have dragged her by her hair until witnesses noticed and called 911.
When police arrived just before 10 p.m., they found Reyes in the act and quickly separated him from the victim, leading to his arrest.
Authorities revealed that Reyes had made a significant hole in the wall to gain access, slipping into the closet of the girl’s room where she was with the two younger relatives, as seen in police photographs.
Living in the same complex, Reyes now faces charges including robbery, aggravated assault, attempted rape, kidnapping, and two counts of child abuse. Additionally, he faces immigration issues, though his status is still unclear.
“We applaud the rapid action of the witness who alerted authorities, enabling officers to intervene before any further harm came to the victim,” stated Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish. “The principle of ‘see something, say something’ truly works in our community, and it’s great to have neighbors looking out for one another.”
He further noted, “Our police officers excel at removing violent offenders from our streets, but this is just the start. The victim has a difficult journey ahead after this distressing incident, and we hope the community wraps her in support.”
Reyes is currently being held without bail at Hall County Jail, according to court records.
