Trigger warning: This article discusses sexual violence and abuse
A café saved a woman from a violent hostage situation after they found a note on her food order.
The 24-year-old woman had placed an order for 24-hour eatery Chipper Truck Café in New York at 5am on Sunday, 19 June.
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Thanks to the app Grubhub she was able to leave a note with instructions, asking the restaurant to bring police and requesting that they 'don't make it obvious'.
Alice Bermejo, who owns the Chipper Truck Café with her husband, said they received a call from a worker who had spotted the note.
Asking what to do, the husband said: "Call the police, can't take any risks, better be safe than sorry."
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When they arrived at the property in the Eastchester area of the Bronx, the 32-year-old man who had been holding the woman hostage answered the door, assuming the food had arrived.
He was identified as Kemoy Royal, and was swiftly arrested where authorities discovered he'd been holding the 24-year-old against her will and sexually assaulting her.
The pair had met online months earlier, with him turning violent after meeting in person. Royal would only allow her to use her phone to order food.
Workers at the Chipper Truck Café praised the woman's quick thinking and thanked the police for their fast action on the situation.
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They also received a call from the woman's friend to thank them for their instrumental role in her rescue.
Alice's daughter Alicia said: "They called to thank us and just to be like, 'Thank you so much for helping my friend and just, you know making sure that she was fine'.
"We really had no idea of the gravity of the situation until after everything had happened... Just knowing that like, we were there, and that being open 24 hours allowed her to have a way to get help."
Royal has since been charged with a number of offences including rape, unlawful imprisonment, strangulation, criminal sex act and sexual abuse.
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Reports have since uncovered that he was also charged in the attempted sexual assault of another young woman days before the 24-year-old was rescued.
It is unclear why Royal wasn't arrested immediately for the first incident and was instead being charged in both cases at the same time.
If you’ve been affected by this story, you can call Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline at 0808 2000 247, or talk to them online here. Or call the Men’s Advice Line by Respect on 0808 801 0327 or visit their website here.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock/News 12 WestchesterTopics: News, Domestic Abuse, Food and Drink