A New York Fire Department released surveillance footage that captured an assault in broad daylight, in which a man on a bicycle hit an elderly woman on the face, authorities said.
NYPD officials identified the suspect as 53-year-old Daniel Biggs, who allegedly sucker-punched the woman, identified as in her 60s, near the Brooklyn fire station located at the corner of Haycock Street and Lewis Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
A group of firefighters who witnessed the Aug. 26 attack chased down the suspect around 5 p.m. They detained Biggs and stayed with him until police arrived to take him into custody, CBS affiliate WLNY reported.
While the firemen were waiting for the police, Biggs also allegedly punched a 29-year-old fireman in the face, causing some bruising and swelling.
The suspect is apparently a recognized face in the area and has previously been arrested 18 times, with accusations including robberies and assault, police said. His most recent arrest was in August, when he assaulted a 26-year-old man, allegedly slashing him in the face, WLNY reported.
According to court records obtained by the New York Post, Biggs appeared before a New York court and was ordered to be held on a $20,000 bond, but after making another court appearance four days later, he was released again without posting any bail.
He was reportedly charged with assault, menacing, harassment, and attempted assault following his Aug. 26 arrest.
The video was originally posted on the New York Fire Department’s Tik Tok page and was later posted on Instagram as well.
Footage shows Biggs appearing to lose control of his bike as the firemen chase him down, leading to them successfully tackling Biggs.
In the description of the video, the victim is described as an elderly man, though it has been confirmed she is a woman. Police said the woman refused to get treatment at the scene following a minor injury to her mouth.
Police also added that Biggs and the victim are not related to each other and the attack appears to be unprovoked.
“It’s bad. You can’t hit a woman. She’s very nice, the whole family. I grew up with them and they very nice,” a person who works at a nearby grocery store told CBS affiliate WLNY.
