A terrifying attack inside a Gainesville apartment ended [1] with a 29 year old man behind bars after police say he smashed through a closet wall and assaulted a 15 year old girl.
The violent intrusion unfolded while two young children were also inside the family residence.
Witnesses reported seeing the teenager being dragged by her hair and struck repeatedly as she screamed during the struggle.
Their immediate calls to 911 brought Gainesville police officers to the apartment complex while the alleged assault was still underway.
Officers arriving at the scene reportedly witnessed the attack in progress and moved quickly to stop it.
Police separated the primary aggressor from the victim, ending a confrontation that authorities believe could have produced an even more horrifying outcome.
Police identified the suspect as Obed Reyes, a 29 year old resident of Gainesville, Georgia.
He was taken into custody at the scene and later transported to the Hall County Jail without further incident.
According to the preliminary investigation, Reyes entered the family apartment by breaking through a closet wall from a neighboring unit.
Records reviewed by authorities indicate that he lives in the same apartment complex, although investigators said the suspect and victim were not known to each other.
The teenage girl was home with family members who are only 5 and 7 years old when the wall was breached.
Police allege Reyes forced his way into the residence, grabbed the girl by her hair, and punched her multiple times.
Despite the sudden and brutal nature of the attack, police said the victim fought desperately to escape.
She managed to reach the apartment breezeway and screamed for help even as Reyes allegedly continued assaulting her in the open area.
Authorities also allege that Reyes threatened to rape the teenager during the attack.
That reported threat, combined with the forced entry, physical violence, and attempt to control the victim, resulted in a substantial list of serious criminal charges.
Reyes faces charges of burglary, aggravated assault, attempted rape, kidnapping, and cruelty to children.
The cruelty charge comes as two small children were present during an attack that no child, or adult for that matter, should ever have been forced to witness.
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The case also offers a blunt reminder that alert neighbors can make the difference when seconds matter.
Rather than looking away or assuming somebody else would handle it, witnesses contacted emergency dispatchers and gave responding officers the opportunity to intervene immediately.
Gainesville police praised both the witnesses and officers following the arrest, saying, “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.
‘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.”
That quick response appears to have prevented additional trauma and possibly saved the teenager from further injury.
The officers did not arrive after the fact to sort through the wreckage, since they reached the scene while the attack was actively taking place.
Police said the victim now faces a long road toward recovery after enduring the violent invasion of her home.
Her decision to fight back, escape toward a public area, and scream for help gave witnesses a chance to recognize the danger and summon law enforcement.
The allegations against Reyes remain subject to the criminal court process, but the police account describes a chilling assault against a child in what should have been the safety of her own home.
Thanks to attentive residents and officers who acted without delay, the suspect was removed and the victim survived the ordeal.