Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced that Feliz Enrique, 31, faces multiple charges after assaulting a young girl and an off-duty police sergeant in Glendale. According to the Queens District Attorney's Office, Enrique is accused of hitting a 9-year-old girl and severing part of a police officer's finger during his apprehension.
The incident occurred on May 10, when Enrique allegedly approached the child and after asking her name, he forcefully struck her. A nearby off-duty sergeant spotted the altercation and intervened, only to become a victim himself. "This attack on a vulnerable and unsuspecting child was unprovoked and cruel," Katz stated. Sergeant Sebastian Hajder, supported by two bystanders, attempted to detain Enrique, who proceeded to quickly bite the sergeant on various parts of the body including the hand and finger, as reported by the Queens District Attorney's Office.
Enrique's arraignment took place Sunday night, where he was charged with first, second, and third-degree assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and second-degree harassment. Queens Criminal Court Judge Edward Daniels has set the next court date for May 15. The DA's Office reports that if Enrique is found guilty, he could be looking up to 25 years behind bars.
The young girl was treated for injuries that included bruising, bleeding, and loose teeth, while Sergeant Hajder was treated for bite wounds and abrasions, as per the DA's Office. "The sergeant put himself out there, even though he was not on duty, to apprehend this defendant", Katz shared, honoring the off-duty officer's actions. However, his injuries were severe enough for doctors to be unable to reattach his fingertip. Assistant District Attorney Erin Mullins is to lead the prosecution, backed by a team of senior prosecutors dedicated to major crimes.
