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

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.