Aug. 19, 2021 By Michael Dorgan
A man who triggered an amber alert in Elmhurst yesterday for allegedly trying to abduct his 7-year-old daughter has been arrested on a different charge—attempting to rape the child’s mother.
Jean Puello, 40, allegedly tried to rape his daughter’s mother at the woman’s Grand Avenue apartment – near Van Horn Street – at around 1 a.m. Wednesday. He then snatched his child from the scene prompting an amber alert.
Puello has been charged with attempted rape and menacing after he turned himself into police custody at the NYPD112th Precinct in Forest Hills at around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
According to police, Puello had barged into the woman’s apartment, ripped her clothes off and tried to have sex with her, police said.
When she refused, Puello displayed a knife, grabbed her by the wrist and threatened to kill her. The 29-year-old, who is his ex-girlfriend, fought him off and freed herself before fleeing the scene to call 911, police said.
Puello then allegedly grabbed their daughter and fled the location in a green-colored 2002 BMW.
The police issued an amber alert for the child soon after.
The girl was located safe and unharmed at around 4:30 p.m. Police then called off the amber alert.
According to reports, Puello was not arrested for abduction since he has joint custody of the child.
Members of the father’s family denied he forcibly removed the child, according to a CBS2 report.
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