NCIS Star Pauley Perrette Randomly Assaulted In Horrifying Street Attack

NCISactress Pauley Perrette says that she was the victim of a frightening physical attack that occurred Thursday in her Los Angeles neighborhood, according to a tweet she posted late last night.

Perrette wrote that she was walking down her street in Hollywood when she was "jumped by a VERY psychotic homeless man." The man, whom Perrette says was apprehended shortly after the assault, grabbed her, pinned her arm, and repeatedly punched her in the face while saying he was going to kill her.

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Fortunately, she was able to talk him down and he let her go. She texted some friends, who were able to locate the assailant using a sketch drawn by Perrette, and led police to him. Entertainment Tonight obtained the sketch and confirmed the identity of the assailant with LAPD, who identified him as 45-year-old David Merck. Merck was arrested at a Hollywood 7-11 at around 6 p.m. Thursday. He was charged with felony battery. He remains in custody with bail set at $100,000.

According to Perrette's note and sketch, the man who attacked her identified himself as "William Holton," but there is a resemblance between the sketch and a photo ET published of Merck.

"I am shaken and traumatized," Perrette wrote in her note. "We need full mental health care. We need housing and help for the homeless. We need to support our cops."

Here's Perrette's tweet: