Police: Man punches ‘NCIS’ actress near her Hollywood home
LOS ANGELES (AP) – “NCIS” actress Pauley Perrette said she felt “alone, terrified and trapped” when a man attacked her and threatened to kill her as she walked in front of her Hollywood home.
The actress tweeted she thought she was going to die during the 5 p.m. Thursday attack. Perrette, 46, said the man grabbed her, punched her repeatedly in the nose and forehead and graphically told her how he was going to kill her.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the attack. Sgt. Mark Cohan said Friday no additional information would be released.
In her tweets about the attack, Perrette said the attacker kept telling her that his name was William.
“There was an empty garage behind me and I knew if he got me in there I knew I was dead. I knew I couldn’t overcome him, I prayed my heart out (and) then finally said, ‘William is a beautiful name, I have a little nephew named William.'”
The man started to punch her again and then told her to leave.
“And I did. I went into shock. Collapsed on the sidewalk. Some guy walked right past me with a dog that licked my face. He was on his phone, annoyed. Did nothing.”
Within an hour of the attack, police arrested a man a few blocks away. David Merck was booked for investigation of aggravated battery. Bail was set at $100,000.
Police said records don’t list an attorney for Merck, who turned 45 Thursday.
Sgt. Bob Ward told the Los Angeles Times Merck was a known transient with a history of run-ins with the department.
Cohan said as far as he knew, Perrette did not need hospitalization.
Perrette plays forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on the popular television drama. She is also a singer and songwriter and an avid volunteer for a large number of causes, including civil rights, animals and homelessness.
“I am shaken and traumatized,” Perrette wrote. “My house, my beloved Hollywood. My beloved homeless people that I spend my life protecting. My life changed tonight. My … I don’t know.”
She ended her tweet: “We need to not walk alone. I need to heal. I almost died tonight.”