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Crime & Safety

William Giraldo, Cleared of Rape Charges, Speaks Out

The 25-year-old man was charged over the summer in connection with a string of sexual assaults -- only to be cleared by DNA evidence five months later.

In June, William Giraldo, of Bensnhurst, was in connection with the “Brooklyn Groper” case that saw a spree of sexual assaults in Park Slope and surrounding neighborhoods. Now, he is speaking out against the way the NYPD handled his case.

According to the Daily News, Giraldo, 25, was spotted on a surveillance camera in a Sunset Park Dunkin’ Donuts around the same time as one of the victims, who was then followed home and raped.

The media picked up the story and the surveillance video was everywhere. Giraldo went down to the 66th precinct station to proclaim his innocence, and even provided police with a DNA sample, but he said officials tried to grill him into confessing, before placing him in a line-up. 

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Though he was not picked out of the line-up by the victim, Giraldo was still arrested, sent to Rikers for a month and missed his wedding day, according to the Daily News report. It wasn’t until five months later that DNA evidence exonerated the livery cab driver.

“(NYPD) ruined my life. I should have never been in jail," Giraldo told ABC News.

Find out what's happening in Park Slopewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Today, Giraldo says he is having trouble landing a job because of the negativity surrounding his name, according to ABC News.

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