The 22-year-old woman took a photo with Himmelstein, and afterwards, refused three times to tip him.
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Jermaine Himmelstein was arrested on robbery and fraudulent accosting charges shortly after the Thursday afternoon incident. Police said that he embraced her and took a photo with her, but he demanded a $5 tip. Davis was taken to Mount Sinai West for a black eye, cuts and swelling.
She was allegedly punched in the eye after declining to tip a man known for giving out free hugs in Times Square, reports the Toronto Sun.
“I offered a hug to the girl … she said no and walked away”, Himmelstein is quoted as admitting to police in the complaint. After the third time, he punched her in the face.
Jermaine Himmelstein, the man accused of assaulting the woman, did not deny the allegations. NYPD Chief of Department James O’Neill said that Himmelstein “is no stranger to this”.
The Times featured Mr Himmelstein in a 2013 profile, where he described an attack on a female New York University student. He has been arrested 16 times in the last four years.
His parents told the Times their son was autistic and they didn’t know he was frequenting downtown public spaces offering free hugs. She showed it to police, who later found Himmelstein in the area, police said.
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In a further Washington Square Park attack, he allegedly said to a victim, “You’re pissing me off, and I assault people when I’m mad”.
