NYU student attacker had 16 prior arrests, police say in Manhattan

The person arrested for allegedly assaulting a 20-year-old New York College (NYU) scholar close to the college’s Manhattan campus had 16 prior arrests, in accordance with police.

James Rizzo, 45, was arrested by the New York Metropolis Police Division (NYPD) and charged with steady sexual abuse, forcible touching and assault in reference to the incident.

Rizzo allegedly approached the scholar from behind round 9:20 a.m. Monday, punched her within the head and buttocks, pulled her hair and ran off, police mentioned.

RETIRED OFFICER TELLS US ‘A DIFFERENT COUNTRY’ THAN FIVE YEARS AGO AFTER VIOLENT ATTACKS ON WOMEN

Police escort James Rizzo from a Manhattan neighborhood throughout a nighttime perp stroll. Rizzo has been charged with aggravated sexual abuse, forcible touching and assault in reference to the incident. (FNTV)

He was seen strolling out of a Manhattan police station on Tuesday night, carrying a black hoodie and grey sweatpants. He mentioned nothing to reporters who questioned him as he was escorted right into a police automotive.

The New York Post reported that Rizzo’s 16 earlier arrests embrace sexual assault, forcible touching, repeated assaults on ladies, housebreaking and a 1997 homicide arrest. New York State Penitentiary show data Rizzo has no homicide conviction on his report.

Rizzo beforehand served a two-year state sentence for persistent sexual abuse earlier than being paroled in September, data present. He was nonetheless out on parole as of Monday.

WATCH: NYU Pupil Allegedly Attacked on Solution to Class, Video Exhibits

The sufferer, recognized on social media as NYU scholar Amelia Lewis, posted video and surveillance footage of the assault on X and TikTok, saying a person attacked her on the road with out warning.

“After I circled, I noticed an outdated white man, and simply as I circled, he grabbed my hair like that and yanked me and threw me to the bottom,” Lewis mentioned.

NYC DEMOCRAT DEMANDS FIRED AFTER VIOLENT CRIMINAL IS RELEASED EARLY AND THEN ARRESTED IN TRIPLE SLASHING

The footage then exhibits a gaggle of ladies serving to her up after she was knocked to the bottom.

Lewis mentioned the surveillance video was obtained by a pal of hers from a close-by liquor retailer. She described the attacker as a tall man with lengthy brown hair and an extended brown beard, carrying grey sweatpants, a black puffer jacket and a blue towel round his neck.

WATCH: NYU scholar talks about stunning road assault

The coed mentioned she despatched the video to NYU safety, who forwarded the footage to police.

“The college is happy {that a} suspect has been arrested within the assault on one in all its college students that occurred on a sidewalk on Broadway Monday morning. We’re taking this incident very significantly,” mentioned NYU spokesman John Beckman. “We proceed to supply assist to the scholar, and our Campus Security Division assisted the sufferer and labored with police to analyze the incident.”

NYU scholar Amelia Lewis, proper, was reportedly attacked on her strategy to class. (Screenshot: X/Amelia Lewis)

“I simply need to emphasize that this isn’t okay. I’m a scholar at NYU. I shouldn’t be afraid to stroll down the road to go to my 9:30 am class. These persons are disgusting, they usually shouldn’t be capable of freely stroll down the road focusing on women and doing this. As a result of I heard this man did this a month in the past,” Lewis mentioned within the video.

“I am actually nonetheless in shock, however I am much more livid that issues like this will occur on this metropolis, and that we actually must do one thing about it as a result of that is unacceptable,” she continued.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“This simply goes to indicate that you simply actually have to consider who you vote for and assist proper now, as a result of New York wants assist, and we’re simply not getting the assistance that we’d like, and that is insane,” she added.

Fox Information’ Jennifer Johnson contributed to this report.