Police: Teen Charged With Sexually Abusing Girl, 4, At Queens McDonald's
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the sex assault of a 4-year-old girl at a McDonald's in Queens.
The teen, whose name was withheld because of his age, is expected to appear in family court Thursday. He has been charged with criminal sexual act.
The incident happened Tuesday inside the tubular play structure of the indoor PlayPlace at the McDonald's on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica.
Sources said the victim and her brother were playing inside the tubular slide when the suspect carefully positioned himself in a way so their mother could not see him, CBS 2′s Weijia Jiang reported.
Police said after the child told her mother what happened, the woman spotted the suspect and grabbed him, but he got away, Jiang reported.
Officers spent hours Wednesday passing out fliers of the suspect, who was seen on surveillance video inside the restaurant.
Parents and customers at the McDonald's were outraged.
"What he did is horrible – disgusting person," said Rudolph Thurman of Jamaica.
"My blood is boiling at this point. It's not even about stomach turning," said McDonald's customer Katherine Schillingford. "I'm totally angry."
This is not the first incident at this McDonald's PlayPlace. Back in March, police said someone sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl there. Investigators are looking into a possible connection.
The owner of the franchise released a statement Wednesday, saying: "This type of behavior is not tolerated at our restaurants. The safety of our customers is our top priority. As this is under police investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further."
A judge will decide Thursday whether to hold the teen or release him to his parents.
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