Say They Sexually Assaulted Woman
Police captured last Friday, July 18, two men they believe sexually assaulted an 18-year-old girl on a Ridgewood street two days earlier, it was announced.
The suspects were idenified as Franclin Velazquez, 21, of Shepherd Avenue in Cypress Hills and Jorge Maldonado, 28, of Washington Avenue in the Bronx.
Reportedly, the trouble began at about 2:50 a.m., when the attackers approached the 18-year-old woman from behind as she walked through the area.
Law enforcement sources said one of the suspects punched the victim in the head. The other perpetrator then choked the victim and covered her mouth with a hand, authorities noted.
The second suspect reportedly attempted to remove the woman’s pocketbook, but she resisted.
Police said the first perpetrator then began to sexually assault the woman. The suspects then fled the scene after a bystander approached, it was noted.
Officers from the 104th Precinct and EMS units responded to the incident. The woman was brought to Woodhull Medical Center, where she was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
Based on information obtained during the investigation, detectives with the NYPD Queens Special Victims Unit tracked down Velazquez and Maldonado last Friday. Following questioning, they were booked on charges of firstdegree attempted rape and sexual abuse; Maldonado was charged with an additional assault count.
According to court records, Queens Criminal Court Justice Suzanne Melendez ordered Velazquez and Maldonado each held on $15,000 bail and to return to court on Aug. 11.
