By Bill Parry
A Flushing resident has been arrested and charged with attempted rape for allegedly attacking a woman in the elevator of her Astoria building, the Queens district attorney said.
Elvis McKenzie, 27, was arraigned Monday in the June 2 attack, according to the DA’s office.
Based on the criminal complaint, McKenzie, a resident of Jewel Avenue, followed the 53-year-old victim into the elevator and began choking and punching her numerous times, causing swelling and bruising. McKenzie then exposed himself and attempted to pull down her pants, the complaint said. When the elevator door opened on a floor, the victim used her leg to prevent the door from closing and began screaming for help, prompting McKenzie to flee.
DA Richard Brown said, “The defendant is accused of following his victim like a predator and waiting until she was isolated and trapped inside an elevator before attempting to sexually assault her. The offenses that the defendant is charged with committing are crimes of violence that pose a serious threat to public safety and as such warrant punishment by a lengthy prison term.”
McKenzie is charged with first-degree attempted rape, assault and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, Brown said. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
