Courtesy: metro.co.uk
A man offering ‘free hugs’ in New York’s Times Square is accused of punching a Canadian tourist in the face after she refused to tip him for his hug and a photo.
Jermaine Himmelstein was arrested on robbery and fraudulent accosting charges shortly after the Thursday afternoon incident.
Police say Himmelstein demanded a cash tip from the 22-year-old woman, who was visiting from Ottawa, after she took a photo with him.
When the woman refused to pay, police say Himmelstein punched her in the face and then ran off.
The victim was left with a black eye, cuts and bruises.
As Himmelstein was led out of a police station later on Thursday, he told reporters that he ‘was aggressively asking for tips.’
The New York Times suggested Himmelstein had a history of assaulting women in New York.
