U.S. soldier arrested for allegedly assaulting elderly Korean woman

Published : Jul 17, 2011 - 14:04 Updated : Jul 17, 2011 - 14:04

A U.S. soldier was arrested Sunday for allegedly breaking into the home of an elderly Korean woman and assaulting her, local police said.

The 27-year-old staff sergeant, identified only by his initial W, is accused of trespassing in the home of a 67-year-old woman, identified only as A, in the city of Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The U.S. soldier was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, a police spokesman said.

The soldier, affiliated with the 2nd Infantry Division based in Dongducheon, north of Uijeongbu, reportedly battered the woman before attempting to break into another nearby home.

He fled as a 49-year-old woman in the second home screamed, but was shortly arrested after police officers pulled over the taxi he was in.

Police rushed to the scene after they received the 49-year-old woman's report on the soldier's appearance.

Local police said they will soon summon the soldier for questioning, although they had transferred custody of him to U.S. military authorities. ( Yonhap News)

(한글기사)

만취한 美軍 하사, 할머니 폭행

경기도 의정부경찰서는 술에 취해 가정집에 들어가 노인을 때린 혐의(폭행 등)로 미2사단 소속 W(27) 하사를 붙잡아 미군 헌병 에 인계했다고 17일 밝혔다.

경찰에 따르면 W 하사는 지난 17일 오후 9시30시께 만취상태로 의정부시내 A(67 .여)씨의 집에 침입해 자고 있는 A씨를 때린 혐의를 받고 있다.

또 W 하사는 A씨를 때리고 달아난 뒤 오후 10시께 A씨의 집에서 50ｍ 떨어진 B( 49.여)씨의 집 문고리를 부수고 침입을 시도하다가 B씨가 소리를 지르자 달아났다.

경찰은 무전으로 W 하사의 인상착의를 택시회사에 전파했고 이를 들은 택시기사 김모(49.여)씨가 뒷자석에 타고 있던 W씨를 경찰에 신고해 검거했다고 전했다.

경찰은 이번 주중 W 하사를 불러 정확한 사건 경위를 조사할 방침이다. (연합뉴스)