Bed-Stuy Man Choked Woman Who Fled His Kisses, Police Say

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, BROOKLYN -- A Bed-Stuy man stands accused of choking a woman who tried to escape his unwanted kisses, police said.

Melvin Collins, 36, was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with attacking a 42-year-old woman in Manhattan's Peter Cooper Village at about 8:10 a.m. Monday, police said.

Collins followed his victim into a building on East 20th Street and Avenue C and onto the building's elevator, where he groped her body and kissed her, said police.

The woman tried to run when the doors opened but Collins pulled her into a stairwell, climbed on top of her and choked her, police said.

When his victim screamed, Collins fled down the stairs and out of the building, said police.

The woman was treated for scratches on her neck at Bellevue Hospital, according to police.

Collins, who lives on Bedford Avenue in Bed-Stuy, was arrested on charges of criminal obstruction of breathing, sexual abuse and assault at about 3:15 p.m., police said.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch