Florida Man Allegedly Assaults 11-Year-Old Girl He Thought Threw Eggs At His Apartment

A Florida man is facing charges for allegedly chasing and assaulting an 11-year-old girl he believed threw eggs at his apartment, authorities said.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a report of a man assaulting a child at Allison Park Place in Tampa shortly after noon on Saturday, April 19. Deputies arrived and made contact with 43-year-old Marius Mutu, who said someone had been throwing eggs at his apartment for the last week, and when it happened again Saturday, he thought the 11-year-old girl he saw walking nearby was the culprit.

Mutu allegedly admitted chasing the girl, forcing her to the ground and restraining her until adults intervened.

The sheriff’s office shared a disturbing video of the assault captured by a bystander. In it, Mutu can be seen holding the girl on the ground as she cries and shouts for help.

“Help me!” the girl can be heard wailing repeatedly. “I wasn’t doing anything, I swear to God!”

“Get off of her,” a woman can be heard shouting at Mutu. Another adult runs over, shouting, “get your hands off her!”

The sheriff’s office said Mutu claimed he was trying to take a photo of the girl in order to report the incident to apartment management. Mutu was arrested at the scene.

“This type of behavior is not only unacceptable, it’s reprehensible. The safety of our children is non-negotiable,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “This child endured a terrifying and traumatic experience at the hands of someone who chose to take matters into his own hands. We remain committed to protecting our children and ensuring those who harm them are held fully accountable.”