A man charged with abducting an 11-year-old girl from her bicycle and assaulting her in a Queens park attempted to escape law enforcement by concealing himself beneath an umbrella, according to officials.
Teddy Moussignac, 44, from Ozone Park, faces serious charges of kidnapping and sexual assault following an incident that occurred on May 19 in Forest Park, according to prosecutors.
Authorities reported that Moussignac is accused of threatening to kill a girl after forcibly taking her off her bike in the park.
“If you scream, I will kill you,” he reportedly warned the child after covering her mouth and nose, as stated in the criminal complaint.
Prosecutors reported that Moussignac is accused of pulling her into the woods, where he allegedly groped her breast and struck her in the face and thigh.
A complaint reveals that the child suffered scratches on her arms and swelling on her face following the attack.
Authorities reported that the girl’s father came to her rescue upon discovering her bike left on the pavement. A 31-year-old father confronted the suspect with a loud shout, successfully driving him away.
Moussignac attempted to flee, but the father noticed him in the stands, attempting to conceal himself with an umbrella, as detailed in court documents.
“This is every parent’s nightmare. A father was accompanying his daughter on a bike ride in the park when she was grabbed and assaulted. As alleged, the father startled the defendant as he was attacking the child, and he later pointed the defendant out to police. The NYPD’s quick action led to the defendant’s apprehension, and we thank them,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
Officials reported that Moussignac faced charges including assault, forcible touching, and endangering the welfare of a child.
He is scheduled to return to court on July 11. Attempts to contact his attorney on Friday were unsuccessful.
