Jean Carlos Zarzuela, a 30-year-old man, is facing assault charges after allegedly punching a 9-year-old girl at Grand Central Terminal in an unprovoked attack. This incident occurred despite Zarzuela being free without bail after reportedly punching an elderly woman earlier in the month. The MTA police arrested Zarzuela and he was taken into custody to face a court arraignment for the latest assault.
The attack on the young girl took place around 11:50 a.m. inside Grand Central Terminal. The Bronx resident was punched without warning by Zarzuela, leaving her dizzy and in pain. She was taken to NYU Langone-Tisch Hospital for treatment. Zarzuela had initially fled the scene but was eventually found and taken into custody. This incident adds to the assault charges Zarzuela was already facing for allegedly punching an elderly woman on April 4.
During his previous assault case, Zarzuela was arraigned on charges of assault, reckless endangerment, and harassment but was released without bail by Manhattan Judge Laurie Peterson. Despite already being in legal trouble, Zarzuela was back on the streets when he assaulted the young girl at Grand Central Terminal and was then taken back into custody on Sunday. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Zarzuela was awaiting arraignment for this new incident.
Judge Laurie Peterson has been under scrutiny for previous decisions, such as releasing an accused looter in 2020 after he assaulted an NYPD cop. In that case, prosecutors had requested cash bail or a bond, but Peterson released the suspect without bail. Peterson has also made controversial decisions in the past, releasing a suspect in 2016 who went on to commit further crimes after being set free. Overall, Peterson’s decisions have come under criticism for releasing dangerous individuals back onto the streets.
In another similar case, Kari Bazemore, who was initially charged with assault, was later deemed unfit for trial and committed to a psychiatric institution. State court officials did not immediately respond to requests for comments regarding these cases. The string of incidents involving violent assaults and defendants being released without bail raises concerns about the justice system’s ability to protect the public from potential harm. The safety of individuals, especially the vulnerable, must be a top priority in handling cases of violence and assault.
