Transient Held in Attack on Girl, 4, at Koreatown Cafe
A 22-year-old transient was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and rape after allegedly kidnaping a 4-year-old girl from a birthday party at a Koreatown restaurant Sunday night and trying to strangle her, police said.
Dell Jay McCuistian, 22, was taken into custody after children at the party noticed that the girl was missing at 7 p.m. and saw a man attacking her in a laundry room in the rear of the restaurant in the 900 block of South Western Avenue, investigators said. The children notified adults in the restaurant and police were called.
Los Angeles Police Sgt. Howard Silverstein said officers found McCuistian hiding under trees in a nearby construction site. Silverstein said the suspect had a pentagram etched on his arm and was carrying beads popular in satanic rituals.
He is being questioned about a similar kidnaping and assault in Orange County a few months ago, police said.
The girl was taken to Childrens Hospital for treatment.
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