A 9-year-old girl from Queens was attacked earlier this month when a man, Ferris Enrique, 31, struck her in the face and bit her fingers after an off-duty officer attempted to help.
Enrique abruptly approached the girl on Glendale Street while she was playing, inquiring about her name before he slapped her without any warning. This incident was highlighted in a release from Queens District Attorney Melissa Katz.
As a result of the assault, the girl fell to the ground and later received medical treatment for “bruised arms and back, bleeding lips and arms, loose teeth, considerable pain.”
Video footage captured the brutal act, which occurred the day before Mother’s Day, as reported by ABC7.
An off-duty NYPD sergeant, Sebastian Haider, witnessed the incident and intervened. Katz conveyed that the sergeant acted as a good Samaritan, attempting to apprehend Enrique.
While struggling to restrain him, Enrique reportedly bit Haider’s fingers, leading to a permanent injury. Despite seeking medical assistance afterward, the sergeant was unable to have his fingertips reattached.
Enrique was apprehended on Wednesday facing multiple assault charges, including third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Notably, at the time of the incident, he was on parole after serving seven years for attempted murder.
If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 25 years, with his next court appearance scheduled for July 10th.
