Roommates Halt Sexual Assault, Strangulation Of Bergen County Woman: Prosecutor

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A 36-year-old Hackensack man is in custody after breaking into a home, strangling and attempting to sexually assault a woman, prosecutors said Monday.

Jermin Fordyce was charged with home invasion burglary, attempted aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated assault, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors said that around 3:40 a.m. Saturday Hackensack police were called to a home where they found Fordyce "subdued by residents.”

Investigators determined that Fordyce broke into the home by climbing through a bathroom window and then climbed on top of the sleeping woman, removed his pants, and tried to sexually assault her.

During the assault, he strangled the woman, prosecutors said.

Other residents heard the struggle, headed to the victim's room, and captured Fordyce, officials said.

Fordyce was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries he sustained when residents subdued him, prosecutors said.

Fordyce was ultimately taken into custody by the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office to await a detention hearing in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.