An incident of a man attacking three women in Williamsburg has left the community shaken. The perpetrator, Jacob Narvaez, 22, went on a random spree late Monday, targeting women in different locations in the neighborhood.
The first victim, a 19-year-old woman, was walking home on Heyward Street near Lee Avenue when Narvaez allegedly slapped her on the buttocks around 9:25 p.m. He then proceeded to Bedford Avenue near Hewes Street, where he attacked his next two victims in front of a yeshiva.
One of the victims, Rachel Paskes, described the terrifying moment when Narvaez came up behind her and slapped her on the side of her face. She was left in shock and disbelief at the sudden and unprovoked attack.
Despite the severity of the assaults, Narvaez managed to flee the scene but was apprehended by authorities about a half-mile away around 10:15 p.m. He was charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment, despite having no prior arrests.
Video footage captured by Williamsburg 365 News shows the NYPD and the Williamsburg Shomrim Safety Patrol responding to the scene and escorting Narvaez into custody. The community was relieved that the perpetrator was swiftly apprehended and taken off the streets.
This disturbing incident follows a similar case where Anthony Caines, 45, spat on three women in the same neighborhood. Despite the reprehensible nature of the attacks, Caines was granted supervised release due to the lack of felony charges.
The Williamsburg community is on edge following these incidents, with residents urging for stronger measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all members. The swift response from law enforcement in apprehending the perpetrators is commendable, but more needs to be done to prevent such senseless acts of violence in the future.
