A New York man has been taken into custody following allegations of attacking a New York University student and is now facing accusations of another unprovoked assault in Manhattan, alongside charges of burglarizing off-campus residences.
James Rizzo, 45, was apprehended and charged with forcible touching, persistent sexual abuse, and assault after an incident where he allegedly threw 20-year-old Amelia Lewis to the ground on Monday morning. This information comes from the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
According to police reports, surveillance cameras recorded the incident, showing Rizzo—who is registered as a Level 2 sex offender—approaching Lewis from behind. He reportedly struck her head and buttocks, pulled her hair, and then fled the scene.
In a video shared on social media, Lewis recounted the incident, saying, “When I turned around, I saw this older White man, and as soon as I faced him, he grabbed my hair, yanked me, and threw me to the ground.”
Rizzo’s criminal history includes 16 prior arrests, many of which are linked to sex offenses, as indicated by his Level 2 sex offender status. The New York Division of Criminal Justice Services provided Rizzo’s mugshots, which highlight his extensive criminal record.
This alleged attack occurred only a few days after Rizzo is suspected of randomly assaulting 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. on Thanksgiving, according to the New York Post.
The victim, Jana Dianne Brazell, was reportedly visiting her sister-in-law in the city when the incident occurred.
Police escort James Rizzo out of a Manhattan precinct. (FNTV)
“I was about a step or two behind her, and out of nowhere this guy appears in my face and starts talking crazy talk, like, ‘Our whole society is a f—— joke, right?’” Brazell told the Post.
“He stepped back,” she added. “I thought, ‘Thank goodness he’s moving away.” The next thing I know, I’m flying in the air, and I hit this glass wall at the side of a building. I just slid down.”
According to Brazell, the entire encounter lasted “six seconds,” in which Rizzo allegedly struck her from behind with his elbow, causing her to fall to the ground and requiring her to receive six stitches, according to ABC 7.
WATCH: Suspect in attack on NYU student escorted by NYPD
Rizzo was arrested Tuesday after he was found allegedly breaking into an NYU off-campus housing complex, the outlet reported.
In addition to the alleged assaults, Rizzo was caught burglarizing multiple apartments in the Washington Square Park area at around 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Post.
The thefts included multiple electronic devices, a suitcase, a backpack and other items totaling $3,150 in value, the outlet reported. Authorities tracked one of the laptops and discovered it was still in the building, which led investigators to Rizzo, who was “alone in a vacant penthouse surrounded by the items that were stolen,” according to Assistant District Attorney Kailey Wilk.
The NYPD and NYU did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
During his arraignment, Rizzo’s defense attorney reportedly requested that he be granted supervised release, citing his persistent housing instability and mental illness. Rizzo, who was released from prison in September, had also not checked in with his parole officer since Oct. 23, the Post reported.
“We could not find Mr. Rizzo until he was arrested yesterday,” the parole officer reportedly said.
Rizzo was reportedly ordered held without bail, and a New York City judge also requested he receive a psychological evaluation while in custody.
