Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Feliz Enrique was arraigned on charges of assault and other crimes for striking a 9-year-old girl with his hand as she played on a street in Glendale. As the defendant was apprehended by an off-duty police sergeant, Enrique bit the top off the officer’s right index finger.

District Attorney Katz said: “This attack on a vulnerable and unsuspecting child was unprovoked and cruel. A nearby off-duty police sergeant was alerted to the defendant’s alleged actions and began to chase the man. As defendant Feliz Enrique was detained by the sergeant and two other bystanders, he bit the sergeant’s hand and severed the top portion of his index finger. The sergeant put himself out there, even though he was not on duty, to apprehend this defendant.”

Feliz Enrique, 31, of 68^th Street in Ridgewood, was arraigned Sunday night on charges of assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment in the second degree. Queens Criminal Court Judge Edward Daniels ordered him to return to court May 15. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

According to the charges, between 4:10 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the intersection of 67^th Place and Central Avenue, defendant Enrique approached a 9-year-old girl and asked her name. Immediately after identifying herself, Enrique forcefully struck her in the face with his hand causing her to fall to the ground.

Immediately after the incident, off-duty Sergeant Sebastian Hajder, who was nearby, attempted to apprehend the defendant along with two other bystanders.  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 young 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 officers’ fingertip.

Assistant District Attorney Erin Mullins, of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau, is prosecuting 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.