Suspect in brutal shopping mall murder got no jail time from left-wing prosecutor after previous felony arrest: Report



One of the suspects accused of brutally murdering a 68-year-old woman outside a posh mall in Newport Beach last week reportedly got no jail time from the office of left-wing Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón after a previous felony arrest.

Citing interviews and records it reviewed, the Los Angeles Times reported that the murder suspect in question — 26-year-old Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary — was placed on probation for stealing a Rolex at gunpoint in Santa Monica in 2022, avoiding prison time after L.A. County prosecutors agreed to a three-year suspended sentence.

The Times added that Nathan Hochman — Gascón’s opponent in this November's election — said Gascón’s 'malpractice appears to have cost another life.'

The Orange County District Attorney's Office said McCrary on July 2 ran over New Zealander tourist Patricia McKay and dragged her body 65 feet amid a violent robbery of the victim and her 69-year-old husband at the Fashion Island mall, adding that McCrary is eligible for the death penalty if convicted of a special circumstances murder charge.

Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

McCrary faces additional felony charges of attempted second-degree robbery and evading while driving recklessly, the Orange County DA's office said, adding that he has prior felony convictions for residential burglary, criminal threats, and robbery, all in Los Angeles County.

The Times noted the following in regard to the 2022 incident:

Santa Monica Police Lt. Erika Aklufi said surveillance video in that case showed McCrary putting a handgun to the head of a man on Broadway. He and an accomplice demanded the man’s watch, she said.

McCrary’s DNA also was recovered from the victim’s shirt, which he’d grabbed during the robbery, police said.

Prosecutors charged McCrary, who had been arrested by L.A. police a month later, and Donta Baker with robbery in the Santa Monica case based on the DNA evidence, according to court records reviewed by The Times.

The Times said McCrary pleaded no contest in 2023 to one count of robbery, after which L.A. County Superior Court Judge Cathryn Brougham sentenced him to three years. But the paper said Brougham suspended the sentence and placed McCrary on two years’ probation, also ordering him to complete 200 hours of community service.

The Times added that McCrary’s suspended sentence ran concurrent with another suspended sentence following a conviction for possessing a gun as a felon in a separate case the LAPD investigated.

The paper said that while Brougham ordered the completion of a probation report before McCrary’s sentencing, courthouse clerks could find no report upon the Times' request. Probation reports typically provide sentencing recommendations along with defendants' probation suitability, the paper added.

The Times reported that L.A. County prosecutors defended their handling of the case related to stealing a Rolex at gunpoint, a case which officials said “had significant problems with proof.”

More from the paper:

A spokesperson in the district attorney’s office said an inability to identify the defendant in the surveillance video hampered the case. Two witnesses were unable to identify the suspects, the spokesperson said, noting that the robber’s face was not shown in the video because he was wearing a mask.

She also said that prosecutors were unable to identify the item in the suspect’s hands, and that a confirmatory DNA test was never conducted on the robbery victim’s shirt, which called into question its accuracy.

“As a result of these issues, the management team ... authorized a plea offer that allowed [him] to be placed on probation with a suspended state prison sentence,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement, the Times reported.

Opponents of Gascón told the paper that the handling of the case demonstrates how his office has been mismanaged. The Times added that Nathan Hochman — Gascón’s opponent in this November's election — said Gascón’s “malpractice appears to have cost another life.”

Anything else?

The two other suspects in last week's brutal killing in Newport Beach are Malachi Darnell and Jaden Cunningham, both 18, the Orange County DA's Office said.

(L to R) Jaden Cunningham; Malachi DarnellImage source: Orange County (Calif.) District Attorney's Office

The DA's office said McKay and her husband were waiting for a ride after finishing shopping at the mall when a white Toyota Camry pulled up next to the couple. The DA's office said two masked suspects — later identified as Darnell and Cunningham — jumped out and attacked McKay’s husband, putting a gun to his head and demanding his watch as they forced him to the ground as bystanders ran away.

When the pair couldn't get the husband's property, Cunningham is accused of throwing McKay to the ground, stealing her shopping bags, and dragging her into the street in front of the getaway car, which McCrary was driving, the DA's office said.

With McKay lying in front of the Camry, McKay’s husband jumped in front of the vehicle in an effort to stop his wife from being run over, but McCrary is accused of accelerating forward with Darnell in the vehicle, pushing McKay’s husband out of the way, and running over McKay and dragging her body 65 feet, the DA's office said.

While McCrary was dragging McKay under the car, Cunningham was running to try to catch up to the getaway car, the DA's office said, adding that a good Samaritan tried to stop Cunningham from getting back into the vehicle. Darnell is accused of shooting from the getaway car at the good Samaritan, the DA's office said, adding that McCrary is accused of slowing down to allow Cunningham to jump back into the getaway vehicle, after which McCrary drove away.

The DA's office said Darnell and Cunningham also are eligible for the death penalty if they are convicted of the special circumstances murder charges. Darnell also has been charged with second-degree attempted robbery, attempted murder, and felony enhancements of personal use of a firearm and personal discharge of a firearm, the DA's office said, adding that Cunningham also has been charged with one felony count of attempted second-degree robbery.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Thug brutally beats older, smaller deli worker — and keeps kicking victim's bloody face even after he's motionless on floor



A male was caught on surveillance video brutally beating a much older and significantly smaller deli worker in New York City earlier this month — and the clip actually shows the attacker continuing to kick the victim's bloody face even after he's motionless and crumpled on the floor, apparently out cold.

You can view surveillance video of the attack at the Queens deli here. The deeply disturbing clip shows the attacker punching the victim at least 11 times — and kicking him in the face and head at least 13 times.

Police added to the New York Post that the suspect — heavily tattooed with skulls and a heart and the word 'KILLER' in all capital letters — has 25 prior arrests, mostly for robbery.

Perhaps worst of all is that after the attacker's third kick, the victim appeared motionless and unconscious; so the final 10 kicks to the victim's progressively bloody face likely happened after he was already out cold and totally defenseless.

The victim's son told WABC-TV last week that his father was in critical condition at Elmhurst Hospital with internal brain bleeding and a fractured face; the son added to the station that "there's a certain part of his bones that are detached from a very important part of his face."

The brutal assault took place June 17 around 11:20 p.m. at the shop on 64th Street and Broadway in the neighborhood of Woodside, WABC said, adding that it boiled over after the victim confronted the attacker who bumped into him.

Nearby residents told the station they recognize the suspect, who sports green hair in the video.

"Once you mentioned the green hair I knew I saw him because everybody looks at him. Everybody crosses the street when they see him. He's weird. He's definitely weird," one resident noted to WABC.

Another resident added to the station that the suspect frequently talks to himself and comes out at night.

The victim's son told WABC his dad is a "genuinely nice guy."

"He's kind of old fashioned where he talks to random strangers," he told the station of his father. "I know it sounds cliche, but he is the type of person to help out like a random person."

Suspect arrested

Police on Wednesday arrested a suspect after a standoff with police, authorities told amNY.

The outlet, citing police, reported that 29-year-old Osvel Diaz of Forest Hills attempted to shave his green hair to give law enforcement the slip.

According to amNY, the victim in the attack is 62 years old — and the outlet noted that it all went down at the Sunnyside Mini Market. The outlet said the victim's condition — initially critical — has improved slightly.

Detectives and the NYPD Warrant Squad tracked down Diaz at his home on 62nd Drive, amNY said, adding that he allegedly put up a fight.

More from the outlet:

Sources familiar with the investigation said that Diaz briefly barricaded himself inside the home along with a three-week-old baby. Following a brief standoff, however, police were able to take him into custody and rescue the tot, who was not injured.

Detectives escorted a handcuffed Diaz out of the 108th Precinct in Long Island City on Thursday morning. He refused to answer questions hurled at him by journalists before being loaded into a waiting police car en route to Queens Criminal Court for his arraignment.

Diaz is charged with attempted murder, assault, and endangering the welfare of a child, amNY reported.

Police added to the New York Post that the suspect — heavily tattooed with skulls and a heart and the word “KILLER” in all capital letters — has 25 prior arrests, mostly for robbery.

More from the Post:

Diaz’s most recent bust before this one was for a broad-daylight assault of a UPS driver on Sept. 1, 2023 in Astoria, according to a complaint filed in Queens Criminal Court.

He is accused of throwing a metal canister at the driver’s side window of the truck — shattering it — before getting out and bashing the motorist in the head with the container, according to the court doc.

Diaz pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was granted a conditional discharge in that case, according to the Queens DA’s Office.

He was required to complete six days of an anger management course as part of the plea agreement, prosecutors said.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Serial burglar picks wrong residence to rip off, pays painfully when gun-toting homeowner shows up



A homeowner in St. Louis County shot an intruder last week, which led to the suspect's arrest and hospitalization.

Officers were called around 4 a.m. last Tuesday to the 2200 block of Empress Drive over a reported burglary, KDSK-TV said, citing the St. Louis County Police Department. The suspect had unlawfully entered the home and tried to steal property by throwing it out a window, but the homeowner shot the suspect, the station said, citing a probable cause statement.

Local attorney Anders Walker told the station that the homeowner probably had a legal right to open fire: 'In your home, all you need is a reasonable fear that you might get hurt.'

The suspect then ran from the home and past responding officers, who were ordering him to stop and telling him he was being placed under arrest, police told KDSK. A K-9 was used to search the area, the station added, and police arrested the suspect near Chambers Road and Monarch Drive. The suspect was taken to a hospital in critical condition, KDSK said, adding that he was still hospitalized later that same day.

Who is the suspect?

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged 27-year-old Andre Farrar III with first-degree burglary, first-degree attempted burglary, and resisting arrest with a felony, the station said, adding that he was being held on a $200,000 cash-only bond.

Court documents said Farrar tried to enter a home in the 10200 block of Pannell Drive a few hours before the burglary on Empress Drive, KDSK said, adding that police said Farrar has prior burglary convictions in St. Louis.

What did a local attorney say about the shooting?

Local attorney Anders Walker told the station that the homeowner probably had a legal right to open fire: "In your home, all you need is a reasonable fear that you might get hurt."

A man and woman who live in the home were inside the residence at the time of the reported burglary, Lt. Craig Higginbotham of the St. Louis County Police Department told KDSK. The residents were taken to the police station to speak with officers, the station added.

KDSK also reported that investigators went door to door in the area to see if any neighbors had security cameras that might have recorded parts of the incident. Police added to the station that those with information about what happened can call 636-529-8210 or leave an anonymous tip with CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

Homeowner shoots intruder in north St. Louis County youtu.be

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

NYC judge sets free thug accused of sucker-punching woman, breaking her jaw — then judge retires to Florida: Report



A New York City judge set free a suspect accused of sucker-punching a woman and breaking her jaw — then the judge retired to Florida days later, the New York Post reported.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

What are the details?

Prosecutors on Wednesday upgraded charges against 33-year-old Franz Jeudy in connection with the highly publicized, unprovoked March attack against 57-year-old Dulche Pichardo, a mother of three, the Post said.

The paper initially said Jeudy was charged with third-degree assault — a misdemeanor, which means he's not bail-eligible — and he was released.

District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a separate Post story that a grand jury soon returned an indictment for felony assault against Jeudy.

Prosecutors asked for bail-eligible second-degree assault and requested $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond for Jeudy — but Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew Sciarrino rejected the request and let the suspect go, the paper said.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Sciarrino on Friday told the Post he followed state law when releasing Jeudy, noting that "you can't set bail on someone” who “is a not flight risk.”

The judge — a Republican with more than 18 months left on his mayoral appointment — then retired Friday to Florida, the paper said, adding that a court spokesperson said Sciarrino filed his retirement papers in January and insisted the move south “has nothing to do with the bail decision in this case.”

Councilman Robert Holden — a moderate Queens Democrat in favor of tougher bail laws — told the Post he's glad Sciarrino is headed out of New York: "Good riddance to this soft-on-crime judge! We need judges with the backbone to put bad guys behind bars, not ones that let out the entire world and then flee to Florida, where the laws are tougher.”

Prior to the brutal punch Pichardo endured in March, Jeudy was arrested seven times on assault charges, WABC-TV reported. A previous Post story, citing police, said one of those priors took place in 2018 when Jeudy was charged with second-degree assault for an attack on a cop. The paper, citing sources, added that Jeudy also was collared for punching a security guard in 2019.

The Post reported that Jeudy was charged with misdemeanor assault in both cases, but prosecutors said the charges were later dismissed because Jeudy — with an apparent history of schizophrenia — was declared unfit to stand trial.

What else?

The attack against Pichardo came in the wake of a Blaze News report about multiple women saying they were randomly punched in the face and head on New York City streets.

Pichardo told WABC the suspect randomly punched her in the face around 5 p.m. March 26 while she was walking down Grand Avenue near Dean Street in Brooklyn.

“He just punched me on the right side here, very strong,” Pichardo told WPIX-TV, adding, “I was surprised. I said, ‘What’s going on? Why did you hit me? Why did you do it?’ I didn’t do anything. No reason to hit me."

Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot

She told WPIX her attacker never said a word.

WABC reported that Pichard's face was fractured in several places, her mouth was wired shut, and she was scheduled to drink food from a straw for six weeks. WABC added that Pichardo sustained permanent damage to her lower lip, three of her teeth were knocked out, and surgery might be necessary.

WABC said Pichardo is a school bus aide and was returning from work — just steps from home — when the attacker punched her.

More from WABC:

Her brother owns a restaurant across the street from where she lives. He and an employee chased the suspect down.

Yohan Flores says the suspect was standing cold and emotionless when they confronted him. The suspect denied attacking Pichardo.

Pichardo's brother and the employee followed the suspect for several blocks and stopped him from fleeing until police arrived.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'You talkin' s**t to my daughter?' Mom allegedly boards school bus, repeatedly punches 64-year-old driver, drags her by hair



Surveillance video caught the moment last week when a mom allegedly boarded a school bus in Mesa, Arizona, asked the 64-year-old bus driver if she was "talkin' s**t" to her daughter, and then unleashed a flurry of punches on the driver — and even began dragging the screaming driver by her hair toward the bus exit.

Video released of Mesa bus driver attack youtu.be

Police on Wednesday arrested 27-year-old Hermenegilda Marquez in connection with the April 11 incident, KSAZ-TV reported, adding that she's accused of aggravated assault on a school employee — a felony.

Investigators stated that "the defendant was shown video of the attack on the bus and was told that because she was on video committing the assault, she would be charged with a felony, but she showed no emotion upon hearing this," KSAZ added.

Oh, and KTVK-TV reported that Marquez was already on unsupervised probation for a domestic violence assault conviction.

What's the background?

Investigators said the incident took place after the bus driver dropped off children at a designated stop in a residential neighborhood near McKellips Road and 4th Avenue, KSAZ said, adding that court documents indicate the bus driver told police she's a substitute driver and normally isn't on the route.

Court documents indicated that school district video shows Marquez entering the bus and yelling at the driver, KSAZ reported.

"You talkin' s**t to my daughter?" the mother is heard yelling multiple times as she walks up the bus steps while students walk down the steps next to her and exit the bus. The woman appears to take a swing at the bus driver, who hollers at her to get off the bus.

KTVK, citing documents, reported that the bus driver said she didn’t know Marquez or her daughter and reportedly told Marquez she hadn’t said anything to anyone.

Soon, the mother exited the bus — but video shows at least two other individuals getting on the bus steps to berate the driver with one of them calling her a "stupid ass bitch."

With that, the mother got on the bus again and physically attacked the screaming driver with a flurry of punches and slaps. The attacker even tried to drag the bus driver out by her hair.

Court documents state that a male later identified as the defendant's boyfriend ran aboard the bus and pulled the defendant off the bus, KSAZ reported, adding that investigators said Marquez fled the scene in a car before officers arrived.

KSAZ's initial story about the attack cited a district letter to families saying the bus driver suffered minor injuries. KTVK, citing police, said the bus driver's pacemaker began to shock her.

A judge ordered the woman to stay away from the bus stop and set her bail at $5,000, according to a KSAZ video report.

Below is a longer video of the attack, including what prefaced it as well as the aftermath. Content warning: Language

Mom yells at then attacks Arizona bus driver youtu.be

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Female accused of stabbing 1-year-old in stroller in front of parents on Philly street was out on bail after NYC stabbing



A female who's accused of stabbing a 1-year-old boy in a stroller in front of his parents on a Philadelphia street Saturday — as well as 24-year-old woman on a different street hours earlier — was out on bail in connection with a 2022 stabbing in New York City.

What are the details?

Takeira Hester, 28, was out on bail when she missed her Thursday hearing in an assault case for allegedly stabbing a 31-year-old man who tried to break up a fight between Hester and another woman on a lower Manhattan train in 2022, authorities told the New York Post.

Hester apparently made it down to Philadelphia just two days later, where officials said she engaged in two knife attacks.

Around 8:30 a.m. a 24-year-old woman suffered stab wounds to her chest and finger on the 1300 block of Chancellor Street, WTXF-TV reported.

A few hours later, a mother and father were walking with their twins using a stroller outside Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel when police said a woman rushed up and stabbed one of the children, the station said.

“It looked like this female just rushed up to them and nothing was said – completely random," Philadelphia Police Capt. Frank Banford told reporters Saturday, according to the Post. "[She] tried to stab both children but got one child…in each arm.”

The children's father ran after the attacker, who got away but left behind a bag that contained enough clues to help cops track her down, Banford told the paper.

Philadelphia police told Blaze News they arrested Hester around 7:19 p.m. Saturday in the 400 block of North 63rd Street and charged her with attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of instruments of crime, and recklessly endangering another person.

Both stabbing victims — the 24-year-old woman and the 1-year-old boy — reportedly were in stable condition, WTXF said.

Banford told the Post that Hester used a “long knife” in both Philadelphia attacks.

Hester was being held on $4 million bail, WCAU reported.

What else?

New York City authorities had a warrant out for Hester's arrest after she skipped her Thursday hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court in connection with the 2022 assault case, prosecutors told the Post.

Hester was accused of attacking a good Samaritan who tried to intervene as Hester fought with another woman on board a southbound No. 4 train at the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station around 6 a.m. Oct. 26, 2022, the paper said, citing the NYPD.

She allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed the man in the back of the neck, right wrist, and shoulder, police told the Post, adding that Hester fled from the station but was later identified at Bellevue Hospital, where she was arrested.

She was charged with second-degree assault and first-degree attempted assault in connection to the 2022 incident, the paper said, citing a criminal complaint.

More from the Post:

A Manhattan judge at her arraignment ordered her held on $10,000 cash, $15,000 insurance company bond, or $25,000 partially secured surety bond at her arraignment, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors had requested that she be held on $75,000 cash, insurance company bond, or partially secured bond in the case, the DA’s office said.

Hester posted the $10,000 cash bail on Feb. 28, 2023, state court officials said.

It’s unclear when her next court date is in relation to the 2022 New York City case, the paper added.

Community concerned after woman arrested for allegedly stabbing a baby, woman in Center City youtu.be

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Male, 30, allegedly punches 9-year-old girl in face in NYC; he was charged just days prior with punching woman — and released



A 30-year-old male allegedly punched a 9-year-old girl in the face Saturday while she was with her mother in New York City's Grand Central Station. Just days before, cops charged the same suspect — reportedly for punching a woman and breaking her nose, after which authorities soon released him from custody.

What are the details?

Police said the girl and her mom were in the dining concourse at Grand Central just before noon when the suspect — identified as 30-year-old Jean Carlos Zarzuela — punched the girl in the face, WNBC-TV reported.

He got away before the Bronx girl was taken to the hospital, the station said.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Image source: YouTube screenshot

The victim suffered from dizziness and pain, WPIX-TV reported, citing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. She's expected to recover, WPIX added.

Police arrested Zarzuela within a few hours, WNBC said. He was charged with assault, WPIX said, adding that the MTA indicated additional charges are pending.

Court records show police arrested Zarzuela about a week before — April 4 — and charged him with assault, WNBC reported, adding that a law enforcement source said Zarzuela randomly punched a 54-year-old woman inside Grand Central and broke her nose.

In that previous case, the source told WNBC a judge set Zarzuela's bail at $2,500 cash, and Zarzuela went to jail — but he went before a different judge April 9 and was released.

A concourse coffee shop worker who arrived at work just after the alleged assault against the girl had some interesting reactions during a WNBC interview.

"My coworkers were, like, 'Oh my God, like, a child got punched today in front of Tartinery,' and I was like, 'Wow, that's terrible, like, who was it?' and it's, like, it's this guy who has given us problems before," she told WNBC.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

"He, like, fake, like, swings at people sometimes. But I guess he's, like, actually swinging at people now?" she also told WNBC, adding that "there is a very big, like, mental health crisis here, obviously, and, like, like, the reform for that isn't, you know, gonna just, like, change fast? So, I don't know, it's a very nuanced issue."

9-year-old girl punched in face by repeat Grand Central attacker: police | NBC New York youtu.be

“It doesn’t make any sense that this guy — who recently was released after being charged with randomly punching someone else and breaking that victim’s nose — should be back in a public space where he can attack others, especially children,” MTA Communications Director Tim Minton told WPIX. “The people responsible for the criminal justice system need to learn from this episode before more innocent people become victims.”

WPIX's video report called the suspect a "homeless individual."

Man arrested for punching girl in Grand Central: MTA youtu.be

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Another woman punched in NYC, suffers broken jaw; suspect reportedly released without bail despite 7 prior assault arrests



In the wake of a Blaze News report about multiple women saying they were randomly punched in the face and head on New York City streets this month, another woman has come forward saying she also was punched in an unprovoked attack.

What's more, there's video of the brutal punch, the victim suffered a broken jaw — which is now wired shut — and the suspect reportedly was released without bail despite seven prior assault arrests.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Oh, and one of those priors reportedly was an attack on a cop.

What are the details?

Dulce Pichardo, 57, spoke to WABC-TV after a male randomly punched her in the face around 5 p.m. Tuesday while she was walking down Grand Avenue near Dean Street in Brooklyn.

“He just punched me on the right side here, very strong,” Pichardo told WPIX-TV, adding, “I was surprised. I said, ‘What’s going on? Why did you hit me? Why did you do it?’ I didn’t do anything. No reason to hit me."

Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot

She told WPIX her attacker never said a word.

Pichardo suffered a broken jaw, WPIX said.

Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot

WABC reported that her face was fractured in several places, her mouth is now wired shut, and she will need to drink food from a straw for six weeks.

Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot

In addition, WABC said Pichardo sustained permanent damage to her lower lip, three of her teeth were knocked out, and she may need surgery.

WABC said Pichardo is a school bus aide and was returning from work — just steps from home — when the attacker punched her.

More from WABC:

Her brother owns a restaurant across the street from where she lives. He and an employee chased the suspect down.

Yohan Flores says the suspect was standing cold and emotionless when they confronted him. The suspect denied attacking Pichardo.

Pichardo's brother and the employee followed the suspect for several blocks and stopped him from fleeing until police arrived.

Suspect arrested

Officers arrested a suspect identified as 33-year-old Franz Jeudy, WABC said.

Jeudy was charged with third-degree assault — a misdemeanor, which means he's not bail-eligible — and he was released, the New York Post reported.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Jeudy was arrested seven previous times on assault charges, WABC said.

The Post, citing police, said one of those priors took place in 2018 when he was charged with second-degree assault for an attack on a cop.

"Every time I see a man, I cross," Pichardo added to WABC. "I'm not going to be close to nobody. I'm very afraid. I tell my son where I'm going, I want you to walk with me."

NYC woman randomly punched while walking down street youtu.be

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Police arrest male — with 42 previous charges, arrests — yet again and release him. But his freedom lasts just a few minutes.



A 45-year-old male with 42 previous arrests and charges on his record was cuffed yet again Friday in Springfield, Illinois, for criminal trespass, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office said.

That evening, James J. Kirst was released from jail on a notice to appear, authorities said.

But he apparently was in no mood to celebrate — or just missed being behind bars.

Exactly 15 minutes after Kirst was released, authorities said he called them saying he threw a metal pole through the front entrance of the Sangamon County Building in Springfield.

Image source: Sangamon County (Ill.) Sheriff’s Office

So, police arrested Kirst yet again, authorities said.

What are the details?

Authorities said Kirst received his notice to appear at 7:34 p.m. — and then at 7:49 p.m., Kirst made the phone call about throwing the metal pole. Authorities said they found Kirst in the lobby of the Wyndham Hotel and arrested him without incident. Google Maps indicates the hotel is about a six-minute walk from the county building.

Kirst is charged with criminal damage to government supported property over $500, which is a class 3 felony, authorities said. Kirst was still in custody at the time of the sheriff's office announcement Monday, officials noted.

Authorities added that Kirst has "42 previous arrests/charges" on his record and that he refused to attend his first court appearance. The estimated cost of damages is $3,500, authorities added.

How are folks reacting?

Commenters reacting underneath a WCIA-TV story about the incident published on Yahoo! News were taken aback by it all:

"42 previous arrests, and he was released again?" one commenter asked rhetorically. "What judge with cement in their cranium keeps releasing him?"

"When it becomes better to be in jail than be free being a productive citizen working, it’s past time to make jail a place no one wants to go," another commenter wrote. "Three hots and a cot and watching TV, etc., needs to be exchanged for their work in prison doing something constructive that is useful to the general public. No more free rides in jail! Hard labor needs to come back, and I bet we would see the jail population decrease."

"What infuriates me is that people who do what this man has been doing ... clearly need psychiatric help," another commenter stated. "He really can't help what he's doing. 42 arrests. There is no proper program or facility for him that will actually help him, so they keep locking him up in jail, releasing, and repeat. What we, as a nation, are doing to people who need serious help is shameful."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Thug with over 40 arrests on his rap sheet walks streets long enough to beat up NYC transit worker — and officials are fed up: 'New bail reform must be changed'



Alexander Wright has over 40 arrests on his record. But length of his rap sheet and the heinous nature of his violent offenses apparently haven't been enough to keep him locked up and unable to hurt more people.

For example, Wright was charged with a felony hate crime last year for sucker-punching a 55-year-old Asian woman in New York City's Chinatown and knocking her out:

Asian Woman Sucker-Punched In Chinatown youtu.be

But somehow Wright was walking free in August when he allegedly beat up a Bronx subway cleaner who tried to help riders Wright was harassing. The victim, Anthony Nelson, suffered a dislocated nose and a broken collarbone, Fox News said.

Image source: Fox News video screenshot

Wright, 49, was arraigned Sept. 22 on felony assault charges and was to remain at Rikers Island on $5,000 bail.

'This has to stop'

A New York City transit union official appeared on "Fox & Friends First" Monday to voice his displeasure with New York's controversial bail reform law that many say makes it easier for dangerous criminals like Wright to stay out of jail and rack up more victims.

"Once again, this has to stop. The new bail reform must be changed," Transport Union Vice President Robert Kelley told program host Todd Piro. "Time and time again, this guy should not have been privileged to be even under the new bail reform in terms of him being free. After 40 beatings, you would think they'd lock him up and throw away the key."

Image source: Fox News video screenshot

Kelley added that Nelson also has been suffering emotional fallout stemming from the attack and that the victim's "mother cries every day; I speak with her on a weekly basis."

He also said Nelson "is clearly a hero" for trying to help subway riders but that Wright roaming free is "very disheartening."

"I never thought I'd say this, but at the end of the day, the MTA employees have a more dangerous job than the NYPD," Kelley added to Fox News. "At least [the NYPD officers] have weapons to protect themselves… our members don't."

Anything else?

A month after his alleged hate-crime sucker punch, Wright allegedly threw scalding coffee at two traffic agents in Manhattan, the New York Post reported.

Police said Wright had been living at a homeless shelter and was the subject of three prior “emotionally disturbed person” reports, the Post said.

He’s due back in court Nov. 3 in regard to the Nelson attack, the paper said.