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'Free Hugs' Man Allegedly Harassing Women In Union Square
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 28, 2017
Modified Oct 22, 2017
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 28, 2017
Modified Oct 22, 2017
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The Times Square "Free Hugs" guy is still at it—a year ago he was arrested for allegedly attacking a Canadian tourist who refused to tip him, and though that case was dismissed, he's reportedly back to his old tricks. NBC 4 New York reports he's harassing women on the street once again.
In May 2016, Jermaine Himmelstein was arrested for allegedly punching a 22-year-old woman who didn't tip him after taking a photograph with him. Himmelstein, who was regularly spotted in Times Square advertising "Free Hugs," was found mentally unfit to stand trial and the case was dismissed. Still, Himmelstein, 25, has a history of being arrested for allegedly harassing or hitting women, and one woman told NBC 4 New York this week that Himmelstein tried to attack her in Union Square.
The anonymous victim told the outlet she spotted Himmelstein in the area with his "free hugs" sign, and that "all of a sudden he started coming after us." Himmelstein allegedly told her "he was going to beat the bleep out of us."
"It's just not OK to follow people and yell at them and threaten them in public," she said. "It's not OK and we're very scared."
Himmelstein's parents, who live in East Harlem, say their son is autistic, and that his attacks occur when he goes off his medication. Himmelstein told NBC 4 New York that in the Union Square incident, "I was about to commit a crime, but I didn't do it because I was just harassing, making a threat to make everything better." He added, "I don't want to commit a crime. I'm afraid I will, but I didn't want to commit." He says he is taking his medication again.
"I just don't want to lay hands on nobody," he said. "I know I've been doing good for a while. I just don't want to commit no more crimes again."
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harassment
Rebecca Fishbein
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