By Forum Staff
A man has been indicted for allegedly sucker-punching a 9-year-old girl earlier this month as she was playing on a Glendale street, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday. He was also charged with biting off the top segment of the right index finger of an off-duty City Police sergeant who intervened.
Feliz Enrique, 31, who lives in Glendale, was arraigned last Wednesday on an indictment charging him with assault in the first, second and third degrees, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment in the second degree.
According to the charges, on May 10, between 4:10 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Enrique approached the girl near the intersection of 67th Place and Central Avenue and engaged the child in conversation by asking her name. When the child responded, Enrique forcefully struck her in the face with his hand causing her to fall to the ground.
Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
DA Katz thanked Sgt. Hajder and the two good Samaritans who helped detain Enrique before cops arrived.
Immediately after the incident, off-duty NYPD Sgt. Sebastian Hajder, who was nearby, and two good Samaritans attempted to apprehend the defendant. In the ensuing struggle, Enrique bit the sergeant on the knee, hand and finger. He also bit off the top portion of the officer’s right index finger.
The girl was treated at a local hospital and sustained bruising to her arm and back, bleeding to her lip and arm, loose teeth as well as substantial pain.
Hajder was also treated at a local hospital and sustained bite marks to his hand and leg and abrasions to his arm and leg. As a result of the defendant’s actions, doctors were unable to reattach the officer’s fingertip.
“The defendant is accused of approaching a defenseless child and striking her in an unprovoked attack,” Katz said. “I thank the off-duty sergeant and the good Samaritans who helped detain this defendant before cops arrived.”
If convicted, Enrique faces up to 25 years in prison.
