Man arrested for brutal Upper West Side attack on elderly woman: NYPD

Man charged for punching 81-year-old woman

A Staten Island man has been charged for brutally attacking an elderly woman on the Upper West Side last month.

NEW YORK - The NYPD says it has made an arrest following a brutal, unprovoked attack on an elderly woman on the Upper West Side last month.

Police arrested 37-year-old Hansel Esparra-Goza for the attack on 81-year-old Guela Levi Freeman.

On September 13, Esparragoza was allegedly caught on video passing the Freeman on the street, before suddenly turning around and punching her in the head, unprovoked.

Freeman was knocked unconscious, and bystanders rushed to her aid while Esparragoza walked away.

Freeman spoke with FOX 5 shortly after the attack, saying that she felt fortunate to be alive and hoping that her attacker would receive professional help instead of facing jail time.

"I am very happy and relieved that the man was caught and that he is off the street. Hopefully, he will be able to get the psychiatric help that he needs," Freeman said in a statement released to FOX 5 following the arrest.