The homeless man who allegedly shoved a girl into the trail of a shifting Manhattan prepare made a chilling confession — telling cops, “I did it because I wanted to,” a courtroom heard Tuesday.
Markeese Brazelis, 26, overtly admitted to tossing the 23-year-old sufferer into an incoming A prepare on the 168th Road station shortly after he was arrested for the savage Monday morning assault, prosecutors stated at his Manhattan Felony Courtroom arraignment.
“I pushed her into the train because I was high and I was mad,’” Brazelis advised cops, in accordance with Manhattan Assistant District Lawyer Lauren Hatz.
“I did it because I wanted to,” he allegedly stated.
Prosecutors stated the unhinged man needs to be held on $150,000 bail — arguing he posed a hazard to the general public as this was his third arrest within the subway system in simply over per week.
Brazelis was busted on Jan. 19 for getting into the prohibited space of the Bergen Road subway station — solely to be launched after which arrested 4 days later for allegedly grabbing a girl’s butt as she stood subsequent to her companion on a subway platform, in accordance with prosecutors.
Each instances, which included expenses not bail eligible, allowed Brazelis to stay free to escalate his subway deviance — culminating within the unprovoked assault on the Washington Heights station at round 9 a.m. January 27, prosecutors stated.
The maniac didn’t even trade a phrase together with his sufferer earlier than throwing her into the prepare, in accordance with the ADA.
“He poses a threat to strangers he encounters on the subway platforms and he engages in criminal conduct despite being completely unprovoked,” Hatz stated.
Decide Janet McDonnell opted to not set bail, remanding Brazelis into custody as he awaits trial — noting there was an excellent warrant for his arrest on a probation violation from a conviction in Philadelphia.
Brazelis’ legal professional, Jeffrey Linehan, stated his consumer had been homeless for at the very least 5 years whereas affected by psychological well being situations, together with “visual hallucinations.”
The sufferer, who suffered bruising and abrasions throughout her physique, recounted the assault on her Instagram, urging New Yorkers to stay vigilante whereas using the subway.
“I was trying to get away from him, when he decided to shove me into the moving train,” the sufferer’s submit learn. “I’m glad the front of the train was past me or else I wouldn’t be alive.”
She added: “While I am hurt, it could have been worse. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STAY ALERT.”
The MTA’s chief safety officer, Michael Kemper, stated in a press release Monday that he was dumbfounded how Brazelis was allowed to proceed to be on the road after the 2 current run-ins with police earlier than the assault.
“It’s beyond comprehension how this menace can be arrested two different times … only to be turned loose to cause more mayhem,” Kemper stated.
Brazelis was charged with tried assault within the first diploma and assault within the second diploma within the newest case.
He’s due again in courtroom on January 31.
