Brave NYC victim fights off sicko who faked injury in ruse to force her into sex act: cops

Joe Marino, Amanda Woods
·2 min read
Vertell Dunham, 25, distracted a 20-year-old woman by claiming he needed help for a cut on his finger – but then pushed his way into her apartment on East 9th Street near Avenue C in Alphabet City around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, authorities and sources said.
Vertell Dunham, 25, distracted a 20-year-old woman by claiming he needed help for a cut on his finger - but then pushed his way into her apartment on East 9th Street near Avenue C in Alphabet City around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, authorities and sources said.

A brave Manhattan woman fought off a sicko who faked an injury, barged into her apartment then tried to force her into oral sex on Tuesday, cops and sources said.

Vertell Dunham, 25, distracted a 20-year-old woman by claiming he needed help for a cut on his finger – but then pushed his way into her apartment on East 9th Street near Avenue C in Alphabet City around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, authorities and sources said.

Dunham then grabbed the young woman by the throat, choked her, pulled down his pants and tried to force her to perform oral sex on him, cops said.

Vertell Dunham allegedly choked the woman inside her own apartment and tried to force her to perform oral sex on him, cops said.
Vertell Dunham allegedly choked the woman inside her own apartment and tried to force her to perform oral sex on him, cops said.
The victim fought off her attacker, who was later nabbed at Union Square, cops and sources said. Christopher Sadowski
The victim fought off her attacker, who was later nabbed at Union Square, cops and sources said. Christopher Sadowski

But the plucky victim was able to shove her attacker out of the apartment – and it wasn’t long before authorities picked him up at Union Square, cops and sources said.

Dunham – who has one prior bust for turnstile jumping last October – was charged with burglary and attempted sex act, police said.

“The victim in this incident was incredibly lucky they were able to escape,” a police source told The Post. “These criminals use ruses like this to prey on the good nature of people and it could have been ended so much worse. New Yorkers need to be careful. This city is not safe anymore.”