Said Suspect Grabbed Her In Apartment Lobby

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK A street-smart 11-year-old Brooklyn girl outwitted an attacker who she said tried to grab her as she was returning home with a Mother’s Day gift.

Quick-thinking Xochil Garcia, a sixth grader, said she already knew what she would do in case someone ever tried to attack her.

“I think of a plan, like, if anybody kidnaps me, kick them or scratch them — I’m growing my nails out,” Xochil said Monday.

But she didn’t think kicking or scratching would help when the man grabbed her in her apartment lobby and seemed to be trying to drag her upstairs, she said.

“He grabbed my mouth and told me to not scream,” Xochil said.

“I thought he was going to take me up to the roof and rape me or something.”

The 4′5″ girl wrestled out of her attacker’s arms, and was able to draw the attention of residents by crying and screaming. They chased down the man and called police.

“I always tell her, whatever happens, whatever these men do, don’t go with them for anything,” said her mom, Martha Hernandez. “Thank God she knows how to defend herself.”

Xochil had bought a card and nail polish for her mom on Mother’s Day and was on her way back to her apartment when said she was attacked.

Hernandez said they didn’t let the attack ruin the special day. She said while they waited at a police precinct, the girl painted her mother’s nails with hearts, flowers and suns.

“Me and my mom ate and we started to paint our nails because we had a plan to spend the whole day together,” Xochil said.

Police arrested 6′2″ Bernard Mutterperl, 19, and charged him with unlawful imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child and burglary. He was arraigned Monday night and bail set at $25,000 cash or $75,000 bond.