BROOKLYN — A man was charged with punching at least six women in the head in separate incidents across the borough in November and December, according to court papers
Barry Baldwin, 35, of Snediker Avenue in Brownsville, was arrested on Dec. 28 after being sought in connection with several attacks, including one on Dec. 21 where a woman was hit in the back of the head while crossing a Midwood street with her 7-year-old daughter.
“I am eager to share this news with our community because everyone will sleep a little easier,” said Assemblyman Dove Hikind. “As shocking and frightening as these attacks have proven to not only the victims but all of us, everywhere, we are also equally grateful to our excellent police officers who have addressed these crimes quickly and seriously."
Hikind and several other community leaders asked investigators to look into the assaults as being part of a possible pattern of "knockout game" attacks that have taken place in Crown Heights and Midwood over the past few months.
In all the reported incidents victims were attacked seemingly at random and nothing was stolen from them.
The first attacked happened on Nov. 9 when a 78-year-old woman was punched in the back in broad daylight at Avenue L and East 5th Street.
Baldwin, who is six feet tall and 170 pounds, then struck a 20-year-old woman on Dec. 7 at the corner of Avenue M and McDonal Avenue, according to police and court filings.
He attacked two more elderly women on Dec. 24 while they were sitting on benches at the corner of 93rd Street and Seaview Avenue, according to court papers.
On Dec. 27 he allegedly hit a 35-year-old woman while she was speaking on a cell phone in front of 9210 Skidmore Ave. in Canarsie.
None of the women suffered life-threatening injuries.
Baldwin was charged with assault, harassment, menacing and endangering the welfare of a child.
He was held on $13,500 bail after being arraigned on Dec. 30.
