King released a statement Thursday, April 5, thanking Beverly Hills police, her friend who tried to fend off the attacker and bystanders who helped. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
A homeless man has pleaded not guilty to endangering actress Jaime King’s son by smashing the windows of her car.
City News Service says Paul Floyd entered pleas Friday to vandalism, battery and cruelty to a child by endangering health.
Beverly Hills police say King’s 4-year-old son was inside her Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday when Floyd began kicking and jumping on two cars.
Prosecutors say he jumped on the hood of the parked Mercedes, breaking the front and rear windows. The boy was hit by shattered glass but wasn’t hurt. King has said he was terrified by the attack.
Police quickly arrived and arrested Floyd. He could face up to five years in jail if convicted.
“Thank you so much to everyone for the outpouring of love we have received since yesterday’s attack. James Knight is very shaken up, as am I. The attack was incredibly violent, and my 4-year-old son was obviously the target of the individual’s brutal attack, which is terrifying,” she said in a statement.
“I’m saddened that the paparazzi chose to terrorize my son and I by shoving cameras in our face during the attack, whilst he was shaking and crying instead of trying to help. My brave friend Judit Balogh used her self-defense training to try and keep the individual from harming James Knight while glass was shattering on him, as the perpetrator jumped on the roof until it collapsed and kicked in windows trying to get to him. He threw a bottle at her, hitting and assaulting her, but he couldn’t catch her. Without her bravery and selflessness, I cannot imagine the outcome.”
She also called on local officials to take action. “Mental health, drug addiction, and homelessness are issues that need to be addressed, and we desperately need more resources dedicated to helping the people suffering. We as a society can do better than to let those in need endanger themselves and those around them without the help they require. I believe strongly in our Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and our Beverly Hills Mayor Julian A. Gold and know they will not only continue to work to change the status quo but also dedicate themselves to these issues that permeate California.”
King has appeared in the films “Pearl Harbor” and “Sin City” and has a role in the forthcoming “Ocean’s 8.” NVG
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