‘I did it because I wanted’

On By Littum

The homeless man who allegedly pushed a woman into the path to a moving Manhattan train made a cool confession – told the police, “I did it because I wanted to,” heard a court on Tuesday.

Markeese Brazelis, 26, admittedly admitted to throwing the 23-year-old victim in an incoming a train at 168th Street Station shortly after he was arrested for the wild Monday morning attack, said prosecutor at his Manhattan criminal arranging.

“I pushed her into the train because I was tall and I was angry,” Brazelis told the police, according to Manhattan assistant district lawyer Lauren Hatz.

Markeese Brazelis was detained on Tuesday by a Manhattan judge for allegedly pushing a 23-year-old woman into a metro train. Steven Hirsch

“I did it because I wanted to,” he said allegedly.

Prosecutors said the unhinged man should be held at $ 150,000 bail – arguing that he posed a danger to the public as this was his third arrest in the Metro system in just over a week.

Brazelis was bused on January 19 to enter the forbidden area of ​​Bergen Street Subway Station – only to be released and then arrested four days later, allegedly to have grabbed a woman’s ass as she stood next to her partner on a metro platform, according to prosecutors.

Both cases that included charges that are not eligible for bail enabled Brazelis to remain free to escalate his subway – culminated with the unprovoked attack on the Washington Heights station around 10am. January 9, prosecutors said.

The manias did not even exchanged a word with his victim until he threw her into the train, according to Ada.

“He poses a threat to strangers, he meets on the Metro platforms, and he engages in criminal behavior despite being completely unprovoked,” Hatz said.

Brazelis allegedly told police he was pushing his victim “because I wanted”, according to prosecutors. Kevin C Downs for New York Post

Judge Janet McDonnell chose not to put bail and detained Brazelis in custody as he is waiting for trial – and noted that there was an outstanding arrest warrant for his arrest at a violation of probation from a conviction in Philadelphia.

Brazelis’ lawyer, Jeffrey Linehan, said his client had been homeless for at least five years while suffering from mental health conditions, including “visual hallucinations.”

The victim, who suffered bruises and scrub all over her body, told the attack on her Instagram and urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant while driving on the subway.

The 23-year-old victim told his upset escape on Instagram shortly after the attack. Christopher Sadowski

“I tried to get away from him when he decided to push me into the moving train,” the victim’s post read. “I’m glad that the front of the train was past me, otherwise I wouldn’t be alive.”

She added: “While I’m injured, it could have been worse. Please be aware. “

MTA’s most important security officer, Michael Kemper, said in a statement Monday he was amazed at how Brazelis was allowed to remain on the street after the two recent run-ins with police before the attack.

Brazelis was arrested in three metro-related events in just over a week. Steven Hirsch

“It is without an understanding of how this threat can be arrested two different times … Only to be loosened to cause more chaos,” Kemper said.

Brazelis was indicted for attempted assaults in the first degree and assault in the second degree in the latest case.

He will be back in court on January 31st.