A 10-year-old girl on her way to school in Canarsie on Thursday told police she was grabbed by a man who forced her to the rooftop of a building and struck her on the head, authorities said.
The girl said she was walking along 108th Street at about 8:30 a.m. when she was approached by a man dressed all in black. He grabbed the girl and dragged her up seven stories to the roof of a building in the Breukelen Houses, police said.
Police sources say the man asked the girl if she had ever been kissed, and then hit her on the head with a shoe. Before the child was harmed any further, the attacker suddenly took off. Sources say there was no sexual contact.
Neighbors in the building said they heard screaming but didn't know where it was coming from. The girl then ran through the halls and screamed for help.
"There was girl knocking on everybody's door, screaming for help. 'Help me, they're coming, they're coming,'" said Stephanie Campbell, whose brother lives in the building.
At least one neighbor helped the bleeding child, who suffered cuts on her head. She was taken to Kings County Hospital, where she received stitches and was recovering.
The man is described as being 16 to 25 years old, 6 feet tall and wearing a black jacket and black jeans. Police are investigating.
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Despite visible police presence at the housing complex Thursday night, residents were on edge after the attack.
"It's so sad," said Campbell, a mother of a young boy. "You've gotta keep an eye open."
"This guy's gotta get caught," said another neighbor.
