Man accused of hitting girlfriend, good Samaritan on NYC street

UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) — A man is accused of repeatedly hitting his girlfriend in the face on a Manhattan street and then attacking a good Samaritan who intervened, according to the NYPD.

Brian Mendieta, 26, was allegedly hitting his 27-year-old girlfriend in the head in front of 349 East 76th St. near Second Avenue when a man, 40, stepped in to help the woman just before midnight on July 12, police said.

Mendieta allegedly struck the girlfriend multiple times in the face and chased her into the street before the good Samaritan broke it up and called 911, authorities said. Mendieta then allegedly punched the man in the face, according to the NYPD. The victims did not need to be hospitalized.

The boyfriend was arrested Saturday and charged with two counts of assault, police said. Mendieta pled not guilty when he was arraigned the following day.

The court issued a temporary restraining order and he was released without bail, according to court records.

Mendieta’s attorney could not immediately be reached Monday.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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