Man Caught Strangling 11-Year-Old Girl In Park, In Broad Daylight Out On Bail

A New York man accused of trying to strangle an 11-year-old girl in a Manhattan park in broad daylight was arraigned and subsequently released after settling a $7,500 bail on Saturday night, Oct. 23.

Nathaniel DiRenzo, 29, of Saint Marks Place, had been arrested on Saturday morning after he tried to choke an 11-year-old girl and attacked her 15-year-old friend in broad daylight on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 20. The incident happened at Stuyvesant Square between the intersection of East 16th Street and Perlman Place, New York Post reported.

DiRenzo, who was presumably taking his dog to the local dog park for exercise at the Stuyvesant Square, reportedly attacked the children after the kids started throwing dirt and party snappers over a fence into the dog run. The adult supervisor attempted to get the children out of the dispute and back to the school building, but, was unable to get the situation under control.

DiRenzo then approached the children and attacked the 11-year-old girl who was yelling at him. He sprayed water on the girl, grabbed her by the hair, punched her in the face, and allegedly “wrapped his hands around her neck,” trying to strangle her. DiRenzo also attacked a 15-year-old boy who came to defend the girl, Daily News reported.

Following the attack, the 11-year-old girl was taken to Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in stable condition. Meanwhile, the 15-year-old schoolmate was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

DiRenzo has been charged with strangulation, acting in a manner injurious to a child, assault, and harassment in connection with the incident.

“It’s gratifying to see the police doing their job,” said Brandon Troy, a man who works near DiRenzo’s East Village apartment. “That somebody would commit a heinous act like that on a little girl...no matter what transpired.”

DiRenzo reportedly used to work as a volunteer board member for the Lineage Project, a non-profit that helps traumatized children, according to Daily Mail.

"Nathaniel DiRenzo was never an employee of the Lineage Project. He did serve as an uncompensated, volunteer board member. Mr. DiRenzo is no longer on our Board of Directors," Gabrielle Prisco, Co-executive director, said.

Prisco has not commented on whether DiRenzo was removed from his role at the Lineage Project as a result of the viral video where DiRenzo is seen attacking the children.