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Cat gets credit for Girl's Escape
Lansing State Journal ^ | 3/27/2002 | Adam Emerson

Posted on 03/27/2002 5:41:51 AM PST by sockmonkey

Lansing man arraigned on assault charge

By Adam Emerson
Lansing State Journal

A cat stopped a north-side Lansing man from sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl he snatched from his front lawn, police said Tuesday.

Investigators said Wulfrido Lopez brought the girl inside the home, put duct tape over her mouth and tried to remove her pants just after 6 p.m. Monday. But the girl's cat attacked Lopez, enabling her to break free and escape.

"She was damn lucky she had that cat in her hand," Detective Brian Smitherman said. "This could have turned out really bad."

Lopez, 36, was arraigned on a charge of kidnapping and child enticement, which is punishable by up to life in prison. He also was charged with criminal sexual conduct - assault with the intent to penetrate, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Lopez, who is from Mexico and doesn't speak English, spoke through an interpreter before Lansing District Judge Beverley Nettles-Nickerson. Lopez asked for a court-appointed attorney. He was jailed late Tuesday on a $300,000 bond.

Police say that Lopez took the girl into his home at 1019 N. Chestnut St., just off Oakland Avenue. The girl lived nearby but didn't know him, Smitherman said.

The girl screamed and yelled at him to let her go, Lt. Steve Mitchell said. Investigators say he tried to put tape over her mouth after she told him that she thought she heard her mother call for her.

He tried to take off her pants, but couldn't, Smitherman said. The cat, which the girl had been holding the entire time, swiped at Lopez's arm, allowing the girl to run.

The Lansing police special tactical team went to the home with a search warrant, and found Lopez hiding in a crawl space in a basement, covered in dirt to conceal himself, Mitchell said.

Contact Adam Emerson at 377-1058 or aemerson@lsj.com.


TOPICS: Front Page News
KEYWORDS: catlist; cats; childrapist; goodkitty; illegals
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A true feline friend.
1 posted on 03/27/2002 5:41:51 AM PST by sockmonkey
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To: sockmonkey
Good kitty!
2 posted on 03/27/2002 5:43:37 AM PST by dighton
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To: sockmonkey
found Lopez hiding in a crawl space in a basement, covered in dirt to conceal himself

Just add concrete and adios!

3 posted on 03/27/2002 5:46:42 AM PST by RckyRaCoCo
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To: sockmonkey
Ah. It's a good thing that little girl has a trained attack cat. Attack cats can be extremely vicious, you know.
4 posted on 03/27/2002 5:46:55 AM PST by cake_crumb
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To: SamWOLF
Kitty bump
5 posted on 03/27/2002 5:49:51 AM PST by Dakmar
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To: sockmonkey
" found Lopez hiding in a crawl space in a basement, covered in dirt

Sounds like the cat tried to finish the job...

6 posted on 03/27/2002 5:50:23 AM PST by Crowcreek
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To: Dakmar
Thanks for the ping. Too bad the cat didn't go for the eyes.
7 posted on 03/27/2002 5:53:00 AM PST by SAMWolf
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To: sockmonkey

Kudos Kitty!

8 posted on 03/27/2002 5:54:35 AM PST by MotleyGirl70
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To: cake_crumb
I have an attack cat. I didn't volunteer for it. but a friend of my daughter brought it over after it shreaded several of its previous owners. It is finally tame after a year.
9 posted on 03/27/2002 5:55:03 AM PST by js1138
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To: sockmonkey
Was that cat semi or full auto? Did she have a carry permit for the cat?

Thank goodness we still have the right to keep and bear cats.

Seriously, thank the Lord he did not harm her as much as he might have. I noticed this: "Lopez, who is from Mexico and doesn't speak English".

Take him back to the Mexican border, cut his privates off, leave him there.

10 posted on 03/27/2002 5:57:02 AM PST by isthisnickcool
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To: isthisnickcool
No fear, he will get a million-dollar trial at the taxpayers' expense, will get a couple of years in jail, and then no doubt will be welcomed to stay in the country and become a citizen. Or, better, he will stay in the country as a non-citizen, which will entitle him to free medical care.
11 posted on 03/27/2002 6:04:09 AM PST by Cicero
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To: sockmonkey
God bless that cat for not running away in fear!
12 posted on 03/27/2002 6:08:09 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Cicero
Or, better, he will stay in the country as a non-citizen, which will entitle him to free medical care.

Amnesty, remember?

13 posted on 03/27/2002 6:12:33 AM PST by Jesse
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To: sockmonkey

Man's best friend!

14 posted on 03/27/2002 6:33:52 AM PST by texasbluebell
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To: sockmonkey
That guy should have known better. I have known cats that could kick a dogs a$$, several times its size.


15 posted on 03/27/2002 6:38:18 AM PST by Paradox
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To: sockmonkey; dighton
Don't even think about it.
16 posted on 03/27/2002 6:38:40 AM PST by Orual
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To: sockmonkey
That Cat gets a whole can of Tuna Fish!
17 posted on 03/27/2002 6:43:07 AM PST by Destructor
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To: sockmonkey
"found Lopez hiding in a crawl space in a basement, covered in dirt"

Solution:Add more dirt.

18 posted on 03/27/2002 6:46:14 AM PST by hoosierham
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To: sockmonkey
"covered in dirt to conceal himself."

Hmmm. Sounds like kitty went in and tried to do what good cats do after they have used the litterbox. Good cat. Arm every child with an attack trained kitty.

regards

19 posted on 03/27/2002 6:49:17 AM PST by okiedust
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To: Cicero
"Did she have a carry permit for the cat?

The Cat Carrier requires no permit.

20 posted on 03/27/2002 6:51:54 AM PST by Rebelbase
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