Kung Fu-Trained Queens Man Saves Woman from Groper

Mike Novak chased the accused attacker away when he saw a woman being assaulted outside his home

A Queens man who heard a woman screaming outside his home early Sunday is being credited with saving her from being assaulted.

Mike Novak, 54, said he was jolted from sleep around 5:45 a.m. by the desperate cries of a woman in distress.

"My wife, who's a nurse, usually leaves that early," said Novak, who's also a father of a teenage daughter. "So I got scared because I thought something happened to her."

His wife was downstairs and had not left the home yet. When Novak ran out the front door, he saw a man on top of a woman in some bushes down the street.

According to police, the 30-year-old victim had been walking home from the 7 train station along 46th Street when the man attacked her from behind.

Police said he covered her mouth, groped her and hit her in the face. He may have gotten away with more, police said, if it weren't for Novak.

"She started screaming and he told her to be quiet," said Novak. "And good thing she didn't, because I heard her screaming."

"I came running out of the house, and he must have heard me and took off," said Novak.

Novak, who has practiced kung fu for 30 years, was ready to take her attacker down, if only he had not run away so quickly. 

"I think I was doing what anybody should do," said Novak. "In my opinion, when you hear a woman scream, you need to come out and help her."

No arrests have been made. Police are continuing to investigate.

Get the latest from NBC 4 New York anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Sign up for email newsletters here. Get breaking news delivered right to your phone -- just text NYBREAKING to 639710. For more info, text HELP. To end, text STOP. Message and data rates may apply.

Contact Us