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Man assaults woman, steals cell phone: DA

RIDGEWOOD — A 32-year-old Brooklyn man violated an order of protection last month, not only initiating contact with a woman but beating her and taking her cellphone, according to a criminal complaint from the Queens district attorney.

On April 25 between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., Benjamin Velez approached a woman near the corner of Linden Street and Cypress Avenue and began pulling her hair, the complaint said.

Velez then punched the woman, snatched the cell phone out of her hand and threw it on the ground before pocketing it himself, the complaint said.

He then picked up the woman’s keys and said, “I am going to kill you and you better not come home,” according to the complaint.

The woman had previously filed an order of protection against Velez, according to the complaint.

He was charged with criminal contempt, assault, criminal mischief, petit larceny and harassment, the DA said.