A person accused of pummeling a “hero’’ Bronx subway cleaner final week has been arrested a staggering 41 instances up to now — together with for a hate crime that already made him a revolving-door-justice poster boy, The Submit has realized.
Suspect Alexander Wright, 49, is at the moment behind bars on a measly $5,000 bail, or half what Bronx prosecutors hunted for his alleged vicious assault on the train-station employee, who was attempting to cease the accused assailant from harassing straphangers.
Wright allegedly beat MTA worker Anthony Nelson, 35, round 8:40 a.m. Thursday, leaving the sufferer hospitalized with accidents together with a damaged collarbone and dislocated nostril.
The horrific assault was simply the most recent in a protracted checklist of crimes attributed to Wright — from a random slugfest focusing on an Asian girl in Chinatown to throwing scorching espresso on two visitors brokers in Midtown final 12 months.
“If you happen to have a look at his historical past, you’ll throw up,’’ Robert Kelley, vice chairman of Transport Staff Union Native 100, informed The Submit on Tuesday.
“The system has let society down [more than] 40 instances,” Kelley mentioned. “On the finish of the day, these are all comparable circumstances of assault.”
The sufferer’s indignant mom, Lisa Nelson, known as Wright “a menace to society.
“This man Alexander Wright shouldn't be strolling the streets,” mentioned the mother, who appeared at a union rally held Tuesday outdoors The Bronx courthouse on behalf of her son.
“I hope these politicians and these judges give him the max that he deserves and don't let him stroll free.”
In June 2021, Wright was busted for allegedly punching a 55-year-old Asian girl in Decrease Manhattan in a caught-on-video assault. A month earlier, he was accused of tossing scalding espresso on the 2 visitors brokers in Manhattan, triggering an assault rap.
When taken into custody over the Asian girl’s assault, Wright was deposited at Bellevue Hospital for a psych analysis. However it was not clear when or why he was freed after that incident or the espresso assault.
Different prices lodged final 12 months in opposition to the alleged repeat offender included extra circumstances involving second-degree assault, harassment and felony prison mischief, police mentioned.
He additionally was beforehand accused of different assaults, disorderly conduct, petit larceny and prison possession of a managed substance for allegedly carrying artificial marijuana, police and cop sources mentioned.
The suspect — who cops mentioned lives at a homeless shelter on Wards Island and goes by the nickname “Disney” — had beforehand been reported to authorities thrice as an “emotionally disturbed individual.’’
As his alleged career-criminal previous got here to gentle final 12 months, then-NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea seethed on NY1, “What are we doing in society after we are releasing these individuals proper again onto the streets?
“It’s placing New Yorkers in danger,” Shea mentioned.
Wright briefly appeared in Bronx Felony Courtroom on Tuesday within the assault on Nelson, however the listening to was adjourned to Friday.
He faces raps of felony assault within the second diploma, assault within the third diploma and harassment within the second diploma within the assault on Nelson.
The suspect stays behind bars on bail set within the case at $5,000 money, $5,000 bond or the a lot much less stringent $5,000 partially secured bond, officers mentioned.
Prosecutors had requested that bail be set at $10,000 money, $30,000 bond or $30,000 bond partially secured at 10 %, a DA rep mentioned.
Decide Michael Hartofilis set the decrease bail.
Nelson’s mom cried Tuesday whereas urging authorities to throw the e-book at Wright.
She famous that her son was as soon as hailed by the Knicks as a “pandemic hero” for his continued work throughout COVID.
“My son didn't deserve this,” Lisa Nelson mentioned of final week’s assault. “He’s a brother, he’s an uncle, he’s a son, he’s a father. … This isn't proper.
“Please, please, please let justice be served for Anthony Nelson and all of the people who this man has damage.”
Nelson’s sister, Nashia Nelson, 33, informed The Submit that her brother “is in plenty of ache right this moment.
“I’ve by no means in 33 years seen my brother like that – damaged nostril, his proper aspect collarbone is damaged.
“I imply it’s actually devastating, it makes us extraordinarily scared,” she mentioned.
“I’m a daily buyer driving the practice – I even get cursed out a number of instances,’’ the sibling mentioned. “I don’t really feel secure in any respect.’’
The TWU’s Kelley added, “We have to up this bail.
“We have to up these prices,’’ Kelley mentioned of Wright. “We’re uninterested in [emotionally disturbed people] getting amnesty. Our members aren't secure out right here.
“Anthony Nelson is nothing lower than a hero,” Kelley added.
“This can be a heinous crime, and [Wright] must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the regulation. He's in jail proper now, however we've issues if they don't up these prices.’’
The MTA described Nelson in a press release as a “mannequin worker’’ whereas additionally urging “the Bronx District Lawyer to prosecute this unprovoked crime to the fullest extent.
“Somebody with dozens of priors shouldn't be free to harass subway riders and brutally assault the staff who make this metropolis transfer,” the transit company mentioned.
The discharge included a quote from the hospitalized Nelson, who mentioned. “You'll be able to’t flip a blind eye to serving to individuals.
“We must be thoughtful to fellow New Yorkers. I might do it once more,’’ he mentioned.
On-line information indicated that Wright has a Authorized Support lawyer. She was unable to be reached Tuesday.
The troubling subway assault got here as the most recent NYPD statistics present main crimes citywide leaping 36 % in comparison with final 12 months by this time. The dismal determine has been holding regular, whilst murders and shootings are down.
Post a Comment