Couchsurfing Canadian Cries Rape, Court Drops Charges
A German-Canadian couchsurfer told police on Sunday that the Sheepshead Bay man she was staying with had attacked and tried to rape her, but the charges were swiftly dropped in the man’s arraignment, according to a report by the Daily News.
The woman, 23, who the News did not name, was staying in the home Mirzo Atadzhanov, 27, on Homecrest Avenue and Shore Parkway, through the website, couchsurfing.com.
She told police that she had to fight Atadzhanov off in his apartment at around 9:30am when he pantslessly threw her onto a bed, punched her repeatedly, and attempted to rape her, according to a News source.
She said she was able to get free and run into the kitchen where she grabbed a kitchen knife. She told police that she then cut Atadzhanov on his hand and knee, and hopped out of the bedroom window to take the fire escape to the ground.
After the alleged incident, the News described the woman, who was looking to stay in New York from Saturday through Wednesday, as “rattled, but not physically harmed.”
Atadzhanov, who uses the couchsurfing site to stay at places for free when travels, was arrested and treated at Coney Island Hospital for his wounds, officials said.
The reasons for the charges being dropped were not disclosed.
“I’m super laid-back, interested and open to everything. A girl to have fun with, super active and in love with traveling culture and language,” her profile said, according to the News. “I hope to find some people out there who want to show me their life and take me out to the great places of NYC.”
Atadzhanov is a Brooklyn College student and a devout Muslim, according to his family members who spoke to the News.
His mother wasn’t present to witness the attack, but described the woman as “crazy,” “dangerous,” and “a very bad.” She insisted to the News it was the woman who attacked her son after he denied her sexual advances.
The no-fee lodging site leaves it to the hosts to vet their guests and warn them to be wary of everyone. They advise hosts to back out of any interaction if they feel uncomfortable about anything. “Trust your insticts,” reads the site.