By Craig McCarthy | January 28, 2021
A creep faked a heart attack at a Bronx fire scene and then groped an FDNY EMT who had responded, police said.
The incident unfolded Thursday morning while police and fire officials were responding to a massive three-alarm blaze on Westchester Avenue near St. Lawrence Avenue in Soundview, police said.
Around 7:30 a.m., Aaron Cervantes Mejia, 52, collapsed to the ground and appeared to be suffering some sort of cardiac arrest, according to cops.
The 32-year-old EMT jumped in to provide medical aid — but Mejia grabbed her, groping her chest and crotch over her clothes, police said.
“As she approached, she was assaulted, inappropriately grabbed and held,” said Lillian Bonsignore, Chief of EMS. “It required the help of one of our co-workers to try to help her break out of the situation.”
Mejia, who lives just around the corner, was taken into custody by cops on scene and charged with forcible touching and sex abuse, according to police.
Oren Barzilay, the president of FDNY EMS Local 2507 who represents the woman, called the act “appalling” and “despicable.”
“Yesterday, a cop was shot; today, an EMT sexually assaulted, basically raped while on duty,” Barzilay said. “We are thankful her colleagues were there to assist her and take her away from harm.”
“We hold the FDNY and Mayor’s Office accountable for the lack of self-defense training and tools we’ve been asking for years to help keep our men and women safe.”