Say He Broke In To Attack M.V. Woman
Detectives cuffed a Bronx man last week who allegedly broke into a Middle Village woman’s home earlier this month and assaulted her as she slept, law enforcement sources reported.
Police said Joel Perez, 20, of College Avenue appeared in Queens Criminal Court last Wednesday, Sept. 17, to answer to assault and burglary charges for the Sept. 12 incident.
Reportedly, he and the victim were known to each other, and the case was classified as a domestic violence incident.
According to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, the trouble began at about 6 a.m. on Sept. 12 inside the victim’s second-floor apartment on 68th Avenue near 75th Street.
Prosecutors said the woman was lying on her bed talking with someone on her cell phone when she nodded off.
Moments later, it was reported, Perez removed an air conditioner from a nearby window and entered the room.
Authorities stated the woman awoke when Perez allegedly began choking her with his hands. She reportedly asked the person on the other line to contact police.
According to the criminal complaint, Perez then grabbed the victim’s phone from her hand, then pulled her hair and brought her to the kitchen. He reportedly threatened to kill her.
The victim managed to escape his clutches and began banging on the apartment door for assistance, police noted. Perez then fled from the scene in an unknown direction.
Officers from the 104th Precinct responded to the incident. The victim suffered minor injuries.
Based on information obtained during their investigation, police tracked down Perez last Tuesday and charged him with seconddegree burglary, third-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing, criminal mischief, petit larceny and harassment.
Judge Stephanie Zaro ordered Perez held on $15,000 bail during arraignment last Wednesday. The suspect is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 1.
