NYC Man Arrested Twice in Two Days for Attacks, Released Both Times
A series of assaults in Manhattan resulted in the suspect's release without bail twice, sparking fear and criticism of the justice system.
A man identified as Christopher Tarrant was arrested twice within a 48-hour period for a series of assaults in Lower Manhattan and Hell's Kitchen, but was released without bail both times, according to reports.
The first incident occurred when Tarrant allegedly attacked a 28-year-old woman on Fulton Street. The woman reported that within five minutes of her assault, Tarrant also attacked two other women. Police arrested Tarrant for the incident involving the first victim, but he was charged only with misdemeanor assault, which is not bail-eligible under New York's 2019 reform laws, according to court records.
A Manhattan judge released Tarrant the following day. Subsequently, Tarrant allegedly assaulted an 85-year-old man in Hell's Kitchen, kicking him and then punching him twice. This second incident led to a felony assault charge due to the victim's age.
Prosecutors sought bail for Tarrant in the second case, but Criminal Court Judge Jeffrey Gershuny released him on supervised release. The judge, appointed in 2019, has a history of making decisions that have drawn criticism, including a previous case where he released an individual with multiple prior arrests for bank robbery.
The first victim expressed her dismay with the justice system, stating, "We walk around and we expect to not feel like we’re in danger all the time whether it’s at night or during the day. And when the people hired to protect us don’t really step into the full role of their responsibilities it’s really scary."
Retired NYPD Detective Michael Alcazar commented that police could have pursued additional charges based on the pattern of assaults, even without victims from the subsequent attacks cooperating. He also criticized the judge's handling of the case, stating, "Dangerousness is the missing variable, and when judges ignore it the public pays the price."
Felony assault has seen an increase in the NYPD's 1st Precinct, which covers areas including Soho, Tribeca, and Wall Street. Data shows a rise from 133 incidents last year to 151 so far this year.
