Man filmed attacking girl, 11,in Manhattan dog park worked for nonprofit for traumatized kids

New York police claim that the man who attacked an 11-year-old girl at a dog park was a former employee of a non-profit that assists traumatized children.  

DailyMail.com revealed Nathaniel DiRenzo’s former role as a volunteer board chair for the Lineage Project just hours after he had been charged with assault, harassment, strangulation, and perp-walked.

Gabrielle Prisco, co-executive director, stated that Nathaniel DiRenzo wasn’t an employee of Lineage Project. He did serve as a volunteer, unpaid member of the Board of Directors. Mr. DiRenzo is no more on our Board.

She hasn’t commented on whether he was forced to quit his job at the Lineage Project because of the shocking assault video. 

The website of the project describes its role in teaching trauma-sensitive mindfulness to young people aged 12-24 who are navigating system involvement and other serious challenges. It also supports them in cultivating well being, community bonds and inner/collective resilience.

The Lineage Project website has Nathanial DiRenzo’s biography. It has been removed since then, and he no more works as a volunteer coordinator for the non-profit.  

It adds: ‘We center young people, who are impacted by a range of traumatized/traumatizing systems—including the criminal-legal, foster care, shelter, school suspension, residential psychiatric care, and immigration systems.’

An archived page of the site’s website reveals that DiRenzo was a former volunteer: “Nate joins our team from Google, where he’s part of the Cloud Team. Nate, a native New Jerseyer, attended NYU as an undergrad. He worked for POLITICO and the U.S. Congress before returning to New Jersey. He is the proud owner and caretaker of Auggie, a miniature goldendoodle. He is also an avid runner and a passionate foodie. 

 DiRenzo, of Saint Marks Place in the East Village, was charged on October 23 with second-degree strangulation, two counts of assault, second-degree harassment and two counts of acting in a manner injurious to a child for the October 20 incident. 

He was seen being perp-walked out of a Lower Manhattan police station on Saturday night. He wore gray pants and a black mask while he was facing the cameras. 

According to DiRenzo’s bio on the website, he graduated from New York University and worked for the U.S. Congress before returning to the city. 

Auggie, a mini Goldendoodle named Auggie was his dog. 

DailyMail.com photographed DiRenzo as he was being escorted from Manhattan’s 13th Precinct following his arrest and subsequent release on $7,000. Bail.

After his arrest and subsequent release on $7.500 bail, DiRenzo was photographed being escorted from Manhattan’s 13th Precinct.

‘Nathaniel DiRenzo…[d]As a volunteer, unpaid board member [and is]Gabrielle Prisco, co-executive director of this program, stated that he was no longer on our Board. It is not clear if he was removed from board because of video that was circulated following the incident on October 20.

The video shows DiRenzo, along with two other dog walkers, yelling at children and their school chaperone at Stuyvesant Square at the intersection East 16th Street/Perlman Place.

The video shows DiRenzo the dog owner and two other dog walker shouting at the children at Stuyvesant Square, between East 16th Street & Perlman Place.

Before the three dog walker arrived, the schoolchildren were throwing dirt and poppers at the park.

Police say that DiRenzo began attacking the 11 year-old girl and hitting her 15-year old male friend who tried intervene.

Police report that DiRenzo attacked the children in Stuyvesant Square at the intersection of East 16th Street & Perlman Place. 

Nathaniel DiRenzo was allegedly caught on Wednesday afternoon assaulting an 11 year-old in a Stuyvesant Square Park park

 The cellphone video had captured the beginning of the incident where the three dog walkers were screaming at the children who continued to throw dirt at them.

The male dog walker, sporting sunglasses and a beard, approached the gate not long after.

‘All your kids are throwing f**king dirt and f**king poppers!’ DiRenzo allegedly shouted at his chaperone.

‘We’ve already had to call 911 on them. Grip her the f**k up before I put my hands on her.’  

 ‘All your kids are throwing f**king dirt and f**king poppers!’ DiRenzo allegedly shouted at the chaperone.

While their chaperone tried his best to keep them under control, the children continued to throw stones at them.

The chaperone attempted to get the children out the dispute and back into the school building before things got worse.

“What school do they go?” They’re psychos,’ the other male dog walker had asked.

DiRenzo allegedly then said that the chaperone was an “embarrassment” for his inability to control rowdy students.

 The 11-year-old girl then marched towards the suspect before he viciously began attacking her in front of her classmates.

‘You fat little bi**h you’re not going to amount to anything in life,’ DiRenzo had yelled at her before the attack.

After DiRenzo yelled, DiRenzo approached the girl and made a sarcastic remark about the 11-year old girl. 

He then started to punch her in her face, spraying her water and even grabbing at her hair in anger.

The fight broke out between the girl and her 15-year-old male friend.

Other dog walkers and onlookers were also shocked at the horrific incident.

Peter Ghiorse, a dog walker, stated to ABC that he didn’t know what was going down so he and another guy got involved and ended it. ‘I think he heard sirens and booked it.

Police released photos of DiRenzo following his attack on the 11-yearold girl and her male friend, 15 years old, who tried to intervene

 ‘I hope they find this man,’ a witness named Rachel said on Friday, before DiRenzo was apprehended. “This man grabbed her neck, her chest and punched her in her head. Eleven-year-old black young girl. This is not normal. He’s dangerous.’ 

The young girl was taken by Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital to treat her injuries, but was later declared stable.

Her friend, who was also attacked, was treated on the spot for minor injuries.