Police arrest suspect in Brooklyn Heights sexual assault, burglary case

Victim opens up about harrowing experience

May 19, 2023 Mary Frost

A NYPD car. Photo: Julio Cortez/AP File

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BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — After an intensive week-long investigation, police have arrested a suspect wanted in an alarming sexually-motivated burglary in Brooklyn Heights, which took place in the early morning hours of Friday, May 12.

Jayquan Martinez, 27, who resides at 237 Nassau St. in the Farragut housing project, was arrested on Thursday afternoon, May 18, for allegedly entering the apartment of a 43-year-old single mother and her young son, robbing them while they slept, then entering the mother’s bedroom and sexually assaulting her.

Martinez was charged with Burglary; Attempted Criminal Sexual Act; Criminal Possession of Stolen Property; Attempted Sexual Misconduct; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, according to NYPD.

Police gave the approximate location of the residence where the crimes took place as Middagh and Henry streets, and the case raised a great deal of concern in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, where the victim, an actress and producer, has a number of friends and acquaintances. (She is not named to protect her privacy.)

The suspect depicted in this “wanted” poster, which was posted around Brooklyn Heights by the Brooklyn Special Victims Squad, was arrested on Thursday, May 18. Eagle photo by Mary Frost

Woke up to a nightmare

The petite, 5’1” victim said that when she awoke, she thought at first that she was having a nightmare. Then, fearing for the life of her child, who was sleeping in another bedroom, she ferociously fought off the much taller and heavier attacker, lunging at him and screaming, and causing him to back out of her room. She threw herself in between the attacker and her child’s bedroom door and continued to scream at him while trying to make herself appear as large as possible, she told the Brooklyn Eagle.

“I kept screaming like an animal because I was trying to protect my son,” she said.

The suspect fled from the apartment with the victim’s wallet containing cash and credit cards. The victim locked the apartment door after him and rushed to her son’s room, where she found him safe and uninjured. She barricaded herself and her son in his bedroom until the police responded to her 911 call. They arrived quickly, she said, and they discovered that the suspect had left the knife drawer open in the kitchen.

Intense investigation

Martinez’ arrest follows an all-encompassing investigation carried out by the Brooklyn Special Victims Squad’s Det. Shania Roach and the 84th Precinct under Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana. The victim said police questioned her and other residents; checked security cameras in the neighborhood and obtained a photo from a subway camera. The victim worked with a police artist who produced a sketch which was hung on lamp posts around Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO, posted on social media and sent to news outlets. The victim’s apartment was swept for forensic samples, and samples were obtained from the victim’s body, clothing and bed linens.

According to the NYPD police report, Martinez was arrested in the 77th Precinct, which includes the northern section of Crown Heights and part of Prospect Heights, at roughly 1:35 p.m. Thursday.

After an intensive, week-long investigation, police arrested Jayquan Martinez, 27, the suspect wanted in a Brooklyn Heights sexually-motivated burglary. Photo courtesy NYPD

“I’m so relieved he is in police custody tonight,” the victim told the Eagle late Thursday.

She said that she and her son have been having trouble sleeping, and she has had trouble eating at times.

“I can’t sleep without a knife in my bed,” she said.

But she has the highest praise for the law enforcement personnel who worked the case, calling them kind, protocol-driven and professional.

“I can’t tell you how much respect I have for these people. They are wonderful, kind, fierce, incredible protectors and we are so lucky to have these police officers and detectives and forensic detectives working in our city,” she said.

The 84th Precinct’s Rana said at the Precinct’s Community Council meeting on May 16 that the police had a good idea by that time who the suspect was. He also said that there has been a recent uptick in crime in the Precinct, especially grand larceny, and that another burglar was arrested this past week in the same area, though not the same building.

A reward of up to $3,500 had been offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest. The Eagle has asked NYPD if anyone is eligible to receive the reward but has not yet heard back yet.

Please check back, as this article will be updated as the story develops.