By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Tuesday that John Garrison has been charged after allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill a 10-year-old girl as she walked down the street last week in Woodhaven. He is also accused exposing himself the next day on a busy commercial street in Richmond Hill.
Garrison, 53, of Cambria Heights, was arraigned on Sunday on a five-count complaint charging him with sexual abuse in the first degree, forcible touching, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child and public lewdness.
According to the charges and investigation, on March 19, at approximately 2:55 p.m., Garrison began following a 10-year-old girl who was walking along 87th Road in Woodhaven. The child felt frightened and screamed prompting Garrison to tell her “Sit down, shut up or I will kill you.”
Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
DA Katz thanked “the brave survivor” in the case.
In an attempt to get away from Garrison, the girl walked up a few steps of the house she was in front of. Garrison followed her and allegedly grabbed her breast and squeezed it. She pushed him away and the defendant fled the location.
The next day, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Garrison was at the intersection of 104th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill when he pulled down his pants and exposed himself.
When a police officer placed Garrison under arrest, he flailed his arms and kicked his legs to avoid being handcuffed.
“I thank the brave survivor and her family for working with my office and the NYPD as we work to secure justice in this case,” Katz said.
If convicted, Garrison faces up to seven years in prison.
