Exclusive: Video shows woman violently shoved, dragged on Staten Island
NEW DORP, Staten Island (WABC) -- A 63-year-old woman was brutally assaulted on Staten Island Monday, allegedly by a homeless man with a lengthy criminal record and history of mental illness, and the entire incident was caught on video obtained exclusively by Eyewitness News.
The suspect, Eric Coleman, was charged with assault to intently cause physical injury. Prior to that, police say he had approximately 20 arrests, 13 convictions and history of mental illness.
The latest incident, believed to be completely random, happened early Monday morning on New Dorp Lane and Clawson Street in the New Dorp section. The victim, Doreen Belloni, was innocently running errands when she was savagely thrown to the ground, kicked, then dragged down the street.
The video also shows the man dragging Belloni by her leg after the attack.
Coleman did not have any connection with Belloni, police say, and it appeared he followed her on the street prior to the attack.
John Owen, the victim's son talked to Eyewitness News exclusively about the horrific attack on his 63-year-old mother.
"She just remembers someone coming up behind her, and she doesn't remember much after that," Owen says.
Belloni spent five days in the hospital, and was finially released on Friday to face a long road towards recovery.
Eyewitness News is told that Coleman has a long history of mental illness and more than two dozen arrests.
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