While dropping off his daughter at his babysitter’s house in Whitestone at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 27, Bryan Teichman – a former marine and current engineering student at Nassau Community College – heard something that sounded like a muffled scream. Upon looking out a window facing the Cross Island Parkway near 148th Street, he saw a panicked woman being thrown over a guardrail.
“That’s when I said to the babysitter, ‘Something’s wrong, call the police. I’m going out there,’ Teichman, 31, told The Courier.
According to Teichman, he jogged over to the struggle and saw the suspect on top of the woman with his hand over her mouth pushing her head into the dirt while tearing at her clothes.
After the suspect fled the scene, Teichman helped the victim – who seemed to be in a state of shock – to her feet and waited with her until police arrived on the scene.
“Within two minutes, the first police car was there. Within 12 minutes, there were five emergency service vehicles, a K-19 unit, and the lieutenant was orchestrating a search. It was impressive to see what the NYPD does,” said Teichman.
After an investigation helped by Teichman – who was able to describe the man – police say they have made an arrest in the attempted rape case.
Kenneth King, 41, was charged with attempted rape and attempted sex abuse on Friday, September 30.
Teichman, a Fresh Meadows resident with a wife and daughter, says that he hopes others would do the same when faced with that sort of extraordinary situation.
“Honestly, there wasn’t much thought. All I did was react to the situation.”
