Key Highlights
- James Rizzo, 45, was arrested and charged with forcible touching, persistent sexual abuse and assault after he was seen throwing Amelia Lewis, 20, to the ground in an unprovoked assault on Monday morning, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Security camera footage captured the moment Rizzo – who is a level-two sex offender – allegedly approached Lewis from behind and slapped her head and buttocks, pulled her hair and ran off, police said.
- "When I turned around, I saw this old White guy and, like right when I turned around, he like, grabbed my f---- hair like this and like, yanked me and threw me to the ground," Lewis said in a video posted to social media.
- NYU STUDENT SLAPPED FROM BEHIND, THROWN TO GROUND IN RANDOM ATTACK CAUGHT ON VIDEO Two mugshots of Rizzo, who is listed as a Level 2 sex offender and has 16 prior arrests, most involving sex crimes.
- (New York Division of Criminal Justice Services) The alleged attack reportedly occurred just days after Rizzo randomly assaulted another woman on the streets of New York City.
- Rizzo – who reportedly has 16 prior arrests – allegedly pushed a 68-year-old woman in Midtown Manhattan at around 8:45 p. m.
