Homeless Man David Merck Charged For Brutal Assault Of ‘NCIS’ Actress Pauley Perrette

Last week NCIS star Pauley Perrette shared on social media that she been attacked on the street just outside her Hollywood home by a homeless man who, as she wrote, “grabbed me so forcefully, pinned my arm and punched me in the nose and forehead.” Her attacker, David Merck, is now being charged for the assault.

David Merck Charged For Brutal Assault Of Pauley Perrette

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Merck, 45, is charged with one felony count each of making a criminal threat and false imprisonment by violence, reports People. Prosecutors asked for his bail to be set at $60,000.

Perette described how Merck forcefully grabbed her, hit her several times and threatened to kill her before a comment related to the man’s name abruptly prompted Merck to flee.

“He kept repeating his name. ‘William… Don’t forget that! I’m going to kill you’ I was alone, terrified and trapped. There was an empty garage behind me and I knew if he got me in there I was dead,” Perrette said. “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.’”

“That’s all I said, all I did, other than praying my heart out,” Perrette added. “He started to punch me again, and then said: ‘Get the f—k out of here’ And I did.”

Following a moment of shock the actress came to and contacted her friend James and the police. The quick thinking criminal science major drew a sketch of her attacker which enabled authorities to find Merck within an hour of the attack.

Despite the severity of the attack, Perrette expressed sympathy for her attacker. “I’m glad I lived,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “I’m glad he didn’t kill me, but whatever, he doesn’t know who I am. He doesn’t know. He’s mentally ill and he has no support.”

If convicted, Merck could face up to four years in prison.