DETROIT -- A homeless man charged with pulling an 11-year-old girl into an abandoned duplex in Detroit and raping her had to be separated from other prisoners, for his own safety once they learned he was facing a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in the little girl's rape, police said.
Kevin Bernard Meredith, 47, was arraigned Monday at the 50th District Court and is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
The alleged attack happened on Sunday, May 18, as the victim left her aunt's house and was on her way to play at a park near the corner of Edison and Chamberlain streets. Police said that's when Meredith grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the abandoned duplex at 82 Edison Street.
The girl told police he raped her in an empty bedroom. She was able to escape and ran back to her aunts, where they called 911. The victim gave police a detailed and emotional account of the attack, said police.
She was taken to an area hospital while officers went to the scene of the alleged crime.
Police found Meredith in one of the bedrooms of the duplex. A witness told police she saw Meredith take the 11-year-old into the duplex earlier in the day for about five to 10 minutes.
The victim positively identified Meredith as her attacker and he was taken into custody.
Police discovered Meredith had four warrants out for his arrest on misdemeanor charges of failing to appear in court.
A preliminary hearing date has not yet been set.
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