Miami-Dade – An 18-year-old man faces severe charges after allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in a bathroom at Gwen Cherry Park on Tuesday, authorities confirmed. The suspect, identified as Antwan Johnson, was apprehended by quick-thinking citizens who intervened during the assault.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the incident unfolded at Gwen Cherry Park, located at 7090 NW 22nd Ave., just north of Brownsville. The young victim told investigators that Johnson approached her, asking for a “favor.” He allegedly requested she retrieve toilet paper from the women’s bathroom, claiming the men’s room had none, an arrest report stated.
Johnson then reportedly followed the girl into the bathroom. Once inside, he allegedly grabbed her and forced her into the last stall. The arrest report details a harrowing account where Johnson covered the girl’s mouth, causing a cut on her lip, choked her, and sexually assaulted her twice after lowering her shorts and underwear.
The assault was brought to an abrupt halt when a woman entering the bathroom witnessed the ongoing attack and screamed for help, alerting others in the park. Mike Santiague, a bystander who played a crucial role in apprehending Johnson, recalled the pivotal moment. “She kind of screamed out for help like, ‘Hey, he just raped this little girl,’ and I was the guy that locked eyes with him and he just took off running,” Santiague recounted.
Driven by a need for answers, Santiague and another man immediately pursued Johnson. “In the midst of running across the street and chasing him, I just wanted answers,” Santiague added. The two men successfully cornered Johnson in nearby backyards, detaining him until Miami-Dade police arrived swiftly. “We kind of trapped him in some backyards, and we kind of got him out, and police was — they came very fast — they came about the next three minutes or so,” Santiague described. Police took Johnson into custody upon their arrival.
The young victim was visibly traumatized by the ordeal, according to Santiague. “I know she was crying and she was saying he did all type of heinous things to her,” he said. The incident also deeply affected Santiague, who expressed his disbelief and emotional toll. “I couldn’t sleep last night. I’m kind of overwhelmed by the situation. I’m really just in disbelief,” he shared.
Johnson has been booked into jail and faces multiple charges, including sexual battery on a minor, kidnapping, and false imprisonment of a child under 13, authorities confirmed.
