Man offering 'free hugs' in New York arrested for allegedly punching tourist in the face

The man reportedly has a history of violence against young women

AFP/Getty

Oftentimes, when somebody offers a “free hug”, that is what they give. But for one New York City tourist, the advertised free hug came with violence and a black eye.

A 22-year-old woman on holiday from Ottawa met a man carrying a sign that read 'Free hugs' in the epicenter of Manhattan tourism, Times Square, and took a photo with him. According to police, when she declined to tip him after taking the photo, the man allegedly punched the woman in the face and ran away.

Police officers apprehended the suspect shortly after the reported assault with the help of the photo the victim took with him.

Jermaine Himmelstein, the man accused of assaulting the woman, did not deny the allegations. He was reportedly charged with robbery after the Thursday arrest.

“I was aggressively asking for tips,” he told a local NBC affiliate.

According to the New York Times, Mr Himmelstein, 24, has a troubling history of assaulting women throughout the city.

In a 29 April incident, investigators said Mr Himmelstein assaulted a woman in her mid-20s who was waiting for the subway.

“You will respect me when I knock you out,” he reportedly said as he ran off.

The Times featured Mr Himmelstein in a 2013 profile, where he described an attack on a female New York University student.

“She says, ‘I have a boyfriend,’ and this and that,” he said of the encounter in Washington Square Park. He described himself becoming upset that she would think he was “desperate, having no friends”.

“I went and got a can out of the trash and filled it with water and I marched right back to her and threw it right in her face until her face was swollen,” Mr Himmelstein said. “Then I got a cup of ice coffee and I threw it at her.”

That same year, police say he assaulted another woman in the park, telling her, “You’re pissing me off. I assault people when I’m mad,” before attacking.

Both NBC and the Times detailed numerous other reported attacks on young women by Mr Himmelstein. Police said he had been arrested 16 times.

Mr Himmelstein’s parents told the Times in 2013 that they had not been aware of his behaviour until then.

“We don’t condone this,” Denise Himmelstein said. “Jermaine comes from a home where we give him hugs.”

Ms Himmelstein said that her son suffered from autism.

“Please tell every woman in America, I apologise,” she added. “Any woman walking through that park, I apologise.”