North Carolina man accused of sexual offenses involving juvenile at park, police say
Oct 31, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Police have arrested a suspect who they believe sexually assaulted a juvenile in Raleigh Wednesday morning.
Mmende Msombo, 24 of Raleigh, was arrested Wednesday night around 7:30 p.m. at a residence near the park where the assault took place, according to warrants and confirmed by Raleigh police.
Msombo has been charged with sexual battery, second-degree forcible rape, second-degree forcible sexual offense and first-degree kidnapping, warrants said.
Man charged with child sex crimes in North Carolina
According to the Raleigh Police Department, officers responded at approximately 9:53 a.m. to a reported sexual assault in the 900 block of Ileagnes Road near Peach Road Park. They located a juvenile who had injuries consistent with an assault. The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said they searched the area to locate the suspect and spoke with possible witnesses.
"It shocked me a little bit to know that it happened because there’s a lot of people out here every day," Charesse Green told CBS 17 after the incident. "To know it happened to a juvenile is scary."
Green said she recognized a picture of the suspect who had been released by Raleigh police.
"I was down here Saturday with my niece and son," she said. "[The suspect] was on the bench asleep. I told him to get up and get off the bench. He mumbled a little and left."
Additional patrols will be in the area on Thursday, according to Raleigh police.
Msombo is in custody at the Wake County Detention Center.