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After-hours restaurant assault under investigation

November 5, 2012

Police are investigating a sexual assault that happened Sunday night at Charlie Kang’s Restaurant, 127 E. Grand River Ave.

The East Lansing Police Department, or ELPD, took a 29-year-old employee into custody Sunday night after they witnessed him assaulting a female restaurant employee in the dining facility’s bathroom after-hours, ELPD Capt. Bill Mitchell said.

Police were sent to the restaurant after Ingham County Central Dispatch received two brief 911 calls, Mitchell said.

Each time, the caller said, “Charlie Kang’s,” before hanging up, Mitchell said.

No one answered when the dispatcher called the phone number back, so police went to Charlie Kang’s Restaurant to investigate.

The front door of the restaurant was locked because it was after-hours, but police were able to enter the facility through a back entrance, Mitchell said.

“Once they did get into the restaurant, they could hear a woman screaming for help,” Mitchell said, adding police realized the noise was coming from a bathroom inside the restaurant. “They had to force their way in.”

Mitchell said ELPD interrupted the assault and stopped it, taking the suspect — a Lansing resident — into custody.

Police are investigating the incident and seeking charges against the suspect.

Police likely will issue more information about the suspect, such as a photo and name, after charges are issued, Mitchell said.

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