A man previously branded a "sexually violent predator" is behind bars, accused of the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl near LoanDepot Park, Miami police reported. The suspect, Akil Nathaniel Cousins, 27, allegedly forced the teenager into a building and sexually battered her.
Kicked out of her home the night before, the young girl was sitting alone on a bench on Sunday morning near the sports venue, located at NW 13th Avenue and 7th Street, when Cousins approached her. According to Local 10, Cousins took her across the street to an apartment building and assaulted her while they were waiting for an elevator and again inside it.
The traumatic ordeal did not end there as, after entering an apartment to help a resident with groceries, the teen whispered "call the police" to the woman — a plea that went unheeded, as reported by CBS News Miami. Finally, the victim broke free and sought help at a nearby church, where an individual alerted the authorities. The responding officers located Cousins after another call came in about a man exposing himself outside the senior apartment complex of Brisas Del Rio, as reported by Miami police.
In a disturbing recount of the incident, CBS News Miami said Cousins admitted to the assaults. He was already well-known to law enforcement, having been arrested back in November for a separate indecent exposure incident. Now, Cousins faces charges including sexual battery on a victim aged 12 to 17, kidnapping, and indecent exposure. Currently, he is held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
