In a harrowing reminder of just how dangerous New York City’s once-beautiful parks have become under soft-on-crime leadership, a heroic father rescued his 11-year-old daughter from a predator lurking in the shadows of Forest Park in Queens on Monday evening.
The shocking incident took place just before 5 p.m. when the father, 37, and his daughter were biking together near the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard. According to police, the young girl pedaled slightly ahead of her father and veered off the main path into a quieter stretch of the park known as Victory Field — an area that local parents say has long been overrun by vagrants and criminal elements, thanks to years of urban neglect and lax policing.
That’s when 44-year-old Teddy Moussignac, a Brooklyn resident with a sealed prior arrest, allegedly jumped out from behind the bushes and attacked the girl. Police say he knocked her off her bike, covered her nose and mouth to muffle her screams, and attempted to drag her deeper into the woods.
The attacker didn’t count on one thing: the girl’s brave father.
Spotting his daughter’s abandoned bike and hearing the commotion, the father sprinted into action. He found the man assaulting his daughter and immediately intervened, shouting and charging at the predator. Moussignac fled the scene, but thanks to swift NYPD response — and, more importantly, the vigilance of two nearby officers — he was apprehended moments later.
Moussignac is now facing a slew of serious charges, including **kidnapping**, **sexual abuse of a child under 13**, **forcible touching**, **criminal obstruction of breathing**, **child endangerment**, **assault**, and **harassment**. It is unclear why his previous arrest is sealed — yet another disturbing example of the justice system’s lack of transparency and accountability when it comes to dangerous individuals.
The young girl was taken to Jamaica Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the attack. Her physical wounds will heal — but the emotional trauma inflicted by a monster who never should’ve been on the streets is another story.
Local residents are outraged, but not surprised.
Brandon Ziegenfuss, 42, a father of two who raised his children near the area, said he’s long been wary of the park’s more remote corners. “There was always something crazy happening,” he said. “It’s overrun with weirdos.”
Ziegenfuss also pointed out what many in the outer boroughs have come to expect: selective policing. “The cops would never do anything about our side of the park,” he said. “They were too busy protecting the nicer area of Forest Hills.”
This disturbing incident should be a wake-up call to city leaders who’ve spent more time appeasing activists than protecting families. It’s time to restore law and order — not just in upscale neighborhoods, but in every part of the city.
One thing is certain: if not for the quick actions of a courageous father, this story could have had a far darker ending.
