Rotterdam boy, 7, saves mother from attack

Angelica Marotta, 26, and her 7-year-old son, Michael, talk about their attack Monday night inside their Rotterdam apartment, allegedly by a neighbor who was arrested Wednesday in North Carolina.

A Rotterdam man is in custody in North Carolina after police say he broke into a neighbor’s apartment at night and sexually assaulted her, then physically assaulted her 7-year-old son when he tried to intervene.

Rotterdam police Chief James Hamilton said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that the young boy acted bravely and heroically during the incident.

“We told him that he was a hero because he actually interrupted this assault,” Hamilton told media gathered at the department headquarters on Princetown Road, “and what he said was, ‘I’m not a hero. I just had him beat me up instead of you, Mom.’ ”

Craig S. Ackerman, 39, of 2780 Hamburg St., Apt. 1, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday in South Mills, North Carolina, after a brief foot chase, police said.

Following extradition back to New York state, he will face charges of first-degree rape, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and second-degree strangulation, all felonies, police said. He is being detained in the Pitt County jail without bail, but will eventually be brought to Rotterdam Town Court for arraignment.

Ackerman did not know the woman, but police believe he targeted her, Hamilton said. Ackerman had lived in the apartment building for about three months, he said. The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14.

“There was no relationship whatsoever between the victim and the defendant; they just happened to live in close proximity,” Hamilton said.

The woman, Angelica Marotta, 26, identified herself and her son, Michael, to CBS 6, the Gazette’s news-gathering partner.

Hamilton said the news conference was called “to assure the public that they are safe.” Police worked “around the clock” until Ackerman was arrested, he said.

“We received a lot of calls, and just talking to people in the public, of course, there was a lot of concern,” he said, “so I think there will be a lot of people that are relieved today.”

Ackerman was identified as a suspect quickly — on the day of the incident — because he fit the description provided by the victim and lived nearby, Hamilton said, not explaining why police could not immediately arrest him.

However, police promptly began to monitor his whereabouts and knew Sept. 17 — the day he left for North Carolina — that he was headed south, Hamilton said.

“He wasn’t under constant supervision from the day of the crime until today, but we surveilled him the entire time and had a very good idea of where he was,” he said.

Before leaving the area, Ackerman turned one of two cars he owned into a scrap yard for money, the police chief said. He traveled by bus, and police tracked him all the way to Camden County in North Carolina. They contacted the U.S. Marshals Service to assist in the arrest.

Ackerman fled to North Carolina because he had contacts there, but he was alone when officers found him in a South Mills house, he said. He tried to escape through the back door before being apprehended.

Hamilton said the woman and her son, who were treated at Ellis Hospital and released last week, are “very happy” that Ackerman is in custody. The boy had some cuts, bruises and scrapes, and “is certainly doing better now,” he said. The woman suffered “significant injuries” including bruises and abrasions, but is also doing better, he said.

Hamilton said the boy interrupted the assault by going into the room where it was taking place and yelling at Ackerman, causing him to leave the apartment. The chief said his department is discussing ways to commend him.

The man the young boy stood up to was previously described to police as 6 feet or slightly taller and weighing more than 200 pounds.

“We’re talking about a 45-, maybe 50-pound young boy, so it was very brave that he caused the suspect to flee,” Hamilton said. “He most likely saved the victim’s life.”

State troopers, the state police Forensic Investigation Center and Albany police assisted in the investigation.