two hispanics

SILVER SPRING, Md. – Montgomery County (web | news) police have arrested two men in connection with the rape of an 11-year-old girl Tuesday evening in Silver Spring.

The victim told police she was walking near the intersection of Piney Branch Road and Carroll Avenue Tuesday afternoon when two men began yelling at her in Spanish. The victim, who doesn’t understand Spanish, walked away.

About four hours later, around 8 p.m., the girl was playing in a park near Quebec Terrace when the same two men approached the girl, police said. They grabbed her by the arm and forced her to go to an apartment in the 8700 block of Carroll Avenue, where they both raped her, police said. She was released afterwards and immediately told her mother, who called police.

“And based on the information she provided and the location and description of the gentlemen and some of the contents in the apartment, the officers went right to the apartment, found the two guys in the apartment, locked them up,” said police spokesman Cpl. Dan Friz..

The officers arrested 31-year-old Melquicide H. Sorto and 20-year-old Marcos R. Torres-Enriquez. Both were charged with second-degree rape and are being held on $1 million bond.

Cpl. Friz added that the girl confirmed the men in custody were the ones who attacked her.

“It renders one speechless,” Cpl. Friz said of the crime. “It’s completely unnecessary. It’s horrid. You just shake your head.”

Neighbors were also stunned.

“Well, I mean, it’s scary,” said Peter Chan. “I got a 9-year-old, too. That’s crazy.”

ABC 7′s Brad Bell visited the home where the crime took place. He saw several people inside. A man answered the door of the house said he was ignorant of the crime and the accused.

“You don’t know ‘em?” ABC 7′s Brad Bell asked. “I don’t know, man,” the man replied. “You live here, they live here but you don’t know ‘em?” Brad asked.

The case has been referred to federal immigration authorities to find out the immigration status of the defendants and, sources say, police will explore a possible link to gang activity.

One neighbor says nothing would surprise him.

“The gang thing is just going around,” said Mo Ayana. “I have a little brother passing through here to get to my friends house. It’s scary. I don’t trust this area anymore.”

Both defendants were charged with second-degree rape and are being held on $1 million bond.