By Stephen Stirling
A College Point man was charged in the brazen, vicious attack of a 23-year-old woman in Manhattan earlier this year, authorities said last week.
The Manhattan district attorney said Luis Zambrano, a 39-year-old construction worker, was arraigned on rape and kidnapping charges July 22 in Manhattan for allegedly dragging an unconscious woman through a Manhattan nightclub in June, bringing her back to his apartment and assaulting her, the DA said.
According to DA Robert Morgenthau, on March 22, Zambrano was allegedly caught on surveillance cameras at the Marquee, a nightclub at 289 10th Ave., approaching a 23-year-old woman who was intoxicated and passed out on a couch. The DA said surveillance shows Zambrano kissing the woman on a couch.
After a brief period, the DA said Zambrano allegedly stood up with the woman, who could not walk on her own, and began leading her out of the nightclub. He allegedly lost his grip trying to maneuver the woman down the stairs, sending her head first into a wall, but picked her back up and took her to his car three blocks away.
Morgenthau said after driving the woman to his apartment, at 131-20 14th Ave. in College Point, Zambrano allegedly raped her twice. The DA said the woman told police she regained consciousness during the second assault, unaware of where she was, before Zambrano drove her back to Manhattan where she was subsequently treated at a hospital. Authorities said Zambrano has a prior conviction for harassment in 2008, which allowed investigators to link him to the March 22 case through a DNA sample.
The Chelsea nightclub Marquee has been no stranger to controversy in recent months. In December, 25-year-old Lauren Garza was last seen leaving the club with a convicted sex-offender, Michael Mele. Garza has been missing ever since.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at sstirling@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
