NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A Long Island man was arrested for allegedly kidnapping his girlfriend, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Tuesday.
Herman Brightman, 30, of Branch Ave. in Central Islip is accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend with a knife, tying her wrists, and sealing her mouth with tape, according to prosecutors.
Brightman on Aug. 7, allegedly got into an argument with a woman he had been dating for several months after meeting on the dating app, Hinge.
According to prosecutors, the argument grew when Brightman damaged the woman's computer monitor by throwing it onto the floor.
He then allegedly ordered the woman to sit on her bed while he took a knife from the kitchen. He then reportedly used the knife to destroy her cell phone.
The incident increased when Brightman reportedly poked the woman with the knife, covered her mouth, and threatened to gut her, according to the attorney's release.
He then allegedly asked her which part of her body she wanted him to cut first.
Brightman told her to turn up the music that was playing and looked through a window to check for neighbors. He then told the woman that he was going to kill her.
He allegedly instructed the woman to turn up the music in her home. After scouting outside the window for neighbors, Brightman chillingly told the woman he planned to kill her, prosecutors said.
"The defendant terrorized his girlfriend in her own home," Katz said. "She is fortunate to have escaped with her life. I urge women who may have been victimized by the defendant, or need safety planning services, or help in securing an order of protection or shelter placement, to call our 24-hour domestic violence hotline."
Katz also said that Brightman sometimes used the alias 'Nazir Griffiths' and took the opportunity to appeal to any other potential victims of Brightman to come forward. She added that her office's DV Helpline number is (718) 286-4410.
Brightman was arraigned on a seven-count indictment charging him with kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, criminal mischief, menacing, unlawful imprisonment, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal mischief.
If found guilty of the charges, Brightman could face up to 25 years in prison.
He is scheduled for another court appearance on Nov. 28.
