Say He Spat On, Harassed Girl
Detectives cuffed an Ozone Park man last Wednesday, Apr. 16, who allegedly harassed and threatened a Muslim girl riding a bus in Flushing earlier this month, prosecutors announced.
Police identified the suspect as 50-year-old Perry Germano of Cross Bay Boulevard.
The incident reportedly occurred at 9 a.m. on Apr. 7 on board an eastbound Q88 bus traveling near the intersection of Horace Harding Expressway and Kissena Boulevard.
According to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, Germano allegedly approached the 15-yearold girl, who was wearing a veil, and uttered several anti-Muslim statements.
At one point, it was reported, he shoved the girl and called her a terrorist.
Law enforcement sources said Germano allegedly spat on the girl and raised his fist while threatening to punch her.
The incident was later reported to police; the victim was not seriously injured.
Detectives viewed video footage of the incident which helped them identify Germano. According to published reports, he has 39 prior arrests on his rap sheet, including various charges of forgery and criminal possession of stolen property.
In statements made to police, as noted in the criminal complaint, Germano allegedly claimed he didn’t say anything about race or religion and spit on the girl accidentally while yelling at her.
Germano appeared in Queens Criminal Court last Thursday, Apr. 17, before Judge Gia Morris, who set bail at $1,500 cash or $3,000 bond, according to court records.
