Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Feliz Enrique was sentenced to 17 years in prison for attacking a 9-year-old girl who was playing on a Glendale street. The defendant forcefully hit the child with an open hand in May 2025, knocking her to the ground. When an off-duty police sergeant who was nearby intervened to apprehend the defendant, Enrique bit off the top segment of the man’s right index finger.

District Attorney Katz said: “Feliz Enrique attacked a 9-year-old girl who was simply playing outside on a spring afternoon. The violence continued after good Samaritans, including an off-duty NYPD sergeant, tried to apprehend the defendant. Enrique bit the sergeant several times including on his right index finger, severing the fingertip. This type of senseless violence, especially against a child and a member of law enforcement, will not be tolerated. The defendant will now serve 17 years in prison.”

Enrique, 32, of Glendale, pleaded guilty in January to assault in the first, second degree and third degrees, attempted assault in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child. Queens Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino sentenced the defendant today to 17 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges, on May 10, between 4:10 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Enrique approached a 9-year-old girl near the intersection of 67^th Place and Central Avenue in Glendale and engaged the child in conversation by asking her name. When the child responded, Enrique forcefully struck her in the face with an open hand causing her to fall to the ground.

Immediately after the incident, off-duty Sergeant 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. The defendant 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.

Sergeant 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.

Assistant District Attorney Erin Mullins of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Michael Whitney, Bureau Chief, Roni C. Piplani and Timothy Regan, Deputy Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.