Upper East Side Optometrist Assaulted By Stranger During Appointment

An optometrist practicing on the Upper East Side was assaulted in the middle of an appointment by an unknown suspect on Thursday afternoon.

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Dr. Ronald Goldstein, 62, whose office is located at 243 East 77th Street (between Second and Third avenues), said he was with a patient in an exam room at 1:30 p.m. when a trespasser strode past the reception area and socked him, ABC 7 reported.

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Goldstein–who owns Square In The Eye Optical–is said to have fallen to the floor and passed out, while his patient protected herself out of fear, ABC 7 reported, adding that the doctor did not know his attacker but that it didn’t seem like a random attack.

“It’s a very strange shock to have someone come into our office and invade our space and assault me like that,” Goldstein told ABC 7. “No one here recognizes him – we don’t have any disgruntled patients, so it was a very strange situation.”

Security footage of the incident shows the patient eventually running out of the exam room to seek help, ABC 7 reported, adding that Goldstein was unconscious at the time of the attack.

Goldstein was rushed to the hospital where he got seven stitches in his forehead, ABC 7 reported, adding that his glasses were broken during the altercation.

Directly after the attack, office workers saw the suspect walk out as casually as he walked in. They chased after him to take his picture; police have photos of the suspect they are looking for.

The New York Police Department told East Side Feed on Saturday that no arrests have been made and that the investigation is still ongoing. The suspect is believed be in his 20s.

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Tai Goldstein, Dr. Goldstein’s daughter, posted to Facebook about the incident.

“A complete stranger walked into my father’s office on the UES of NY today while he was examining an elderly patient, punched him in the face and knocked him unconscious,” the post says. “We’re trying to find the man who did this so anything you could do to help would be greatly appreciated.”

East Side Feed reached out to Tai Goldstein but hasn’t heard back yet. We will update this story as more information becomes available.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

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