Suspect arrested in connection with sexual assault of girl younger than 18 in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Police arrested a suspect in connection with an assault that happened near Peach Road Park.

Raleigh police said officers responded to calls about a sexual assault at 9:53 a.m. in the 900 block of Ileagnes Road.

Officers said a juvenile girl was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect, 24-year-old Mmende Msombo, has been charged with sexual battery, second-degree forcible rape, second-degree forcible sexual offense, and first-degree kidnapping.

Police said they were able to identify Msombo using camera footage and the victim's description.

ABC11 spoke with neighbors and an expert about the impact of the incident on the community.

"Very concerning and especially something you don't want to hear," said neighbor London Thomas.

Court documents described that the teen was walking to work near the Peach Road Community Center when Msombo allegedly came up to her and asked for money. She then told him she didn't have any money.

Msombo was then accised of hitting the teen, causing her cellphone to fall, and he dragged he into the woods.

The teen then said Msombo raped her.

Once he left, the teen said she ran and called her boyfriend who called 9-1-1.

Trauma response therapist Thomas Banta told ABC11 during traumatic events a person's body goes into 'fight or flight', and the teen's quick thinking saved her life.

"Our nervous system is doing this to prepare us to be able to leave these situations or fight our way through it," Banta said. "And we have that one mode, and that's to stay alive right And so all of that, all of those instincts are kicking in. And then it sounds like in this case, yeah, that energy was really used in a really important way."

Banta said this is an example of how 'everyday task' can turn violent.

The World Health Organization reported one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime., and it's important for the community to believe victims.

Anyone who believes they may have information is asked to call the Raleigh Police Department at 919-996-3335 or visit Crimestoppers at www.raleighcrimestoppers.org and click "Leave a Tip" on the top right of the page.

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