Evil trick child rapist used against trusting girl, 11, to lure her into park bathroom where he assaulted her
Antwan Johnson, 18, has been charged with sexual battery, kidnapping and false imprisonment after he lured the young girl into the restroom at Gwen Cherry Park in Miami on Tuesday.
Johnson approached the girl around 7pm and asked her to get toilet paper from the women's restroom 'because there was no toilet paper in the men's bathroom,' according to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office obtained by local news outlets.
He then allegedly followed her into the restroom, forced her into a stall and brutally attacked her, Local10 reported.
He is also accused of covering the girl's mouth and choking her during the assault, the Miami Herald reported.
During the horrifying attack, a person walked into the bathroom and then began shouting for help.
'The witness exited the bathroom and yelled that [Johnson] just raped the victim. Citizens at the park chased after [him] and detained him until police arrived,' the arrest report said.
Video shared on social media showed citizens had surrounded Johnson, whose pants were down, and held him until police arrived and arrested him.
'He was jumping gates, got caught behind the house, and we cornered him at that point,' Mike Santiague, who was at the park that evening, told NBC6.
'When I locked eyes with him, I knew the situation was serious,' Santiague added, recalling that he heard a woman calling for help. '[She said] stop him. He just raped this girl.'
He described witnessing the devastation on the face of the victim's heartbroken mother.
'She was very upset and hurt,' Santiague said. 'Words can't even explain the look on her face because it looked like she was not even there.'
Johnson is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, and his next court hearing is set for Thursday.
Johnson could face the death penalty if convicted of the sexual battery charge.
Police said in the arrest report that Johnson initially denied raping the girl, but then 'recanted and confessed.'
'[Johnson] indicated he knew what he did was wrong and he was sorry,' the report said.
Miami-Dade County Parks Director Christina White told local media that the department was 'deeply saddened' by the incident.
'Our hearts go out to the victim and their family, and we wish them a full recovery during this incredibly difficult time,' she said.
White noted that the young girl was not involved in any of the county parks' summer programs at the time of the attack.
'The safety and well-being of all park visitors is our highest priority,' she said. 'We are cooperating fully with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation and remain committed to providing safe, welcoming, and secure spaces for every member of our community.'
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