By Gus Saltonstall
A man was arrested Thursday for allegedly punching a woman on the Upper West Side in September, a police spokesperson confirmed to West Side Rag.
Hansel Esparragoza, 37, is accused of punching an 81-year-old woman walking her son’s dog on September 13 near West 66th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, according to police.
Esparragoza, a Staten Island resident, has been charged with two counts of assault of a victim over the age of 65, police said. He is accused of walking past the woman, before suddenly turning around and punching her in the face for no apparent reason, police said.
The woman was knocked unconscious and rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital in stable condition, police added.
The same day that the 81-year-old was attacked on West 66th Street, a 77-year-old woman was punched in the face near 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue, police said.
A different man, Brooklyn resident Anthony Melendez, was arrested on September 24 in connection with that attack.
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Open season on New Yorks
elderly and defenseless
Surprise, surprise – previously arrested for endangering the welfare of a child. These cowards surely know how to pick their victims – and we reward them with multiple chances to do so.
Yes, it’s almost like their “mental issues” are selectively reduced to be aimed at those with the least chance of countering the attack.
Hansel. He’s not hot right now (Zoolander reference for those who don’t get it).
Thanks to WSR for the helpful update and great job by NYPD. I really appreciate WSR providing these updates but one helpful addition would be to provide at least a high level sense of what the suggested sentencing is for the crime with which he has been charged.
A lot of us are fed up with criminals having minimal penalty for horrible crimes. It would be great to know what those penalties are. And, based on what I know of them, have the penalties become more meaningful, particularly for repeat offenders.
It’s not necessarily a bad suggestion, but…if you don’t know what the penalties are, why are you fed up about them? It seems backwards to me to get upset about something before you even have the basic facts. Does everyone here just float through the world on vibes and if some rando makes a vague claim that “feels” true you get mad about it without even checking?
Based on what I have seen, the penalties seem to be very lenient. It seems like there are way too many convicted criminals getting away with a slap on the wrist, and we are frequently hearing about repeat offenders, who should be facing more severe sentences for each additional offense. But I don’t recall exactly what the crimes committed were, the number of prior offenses, etc. So my lived experience based on quite a few data points but not full information is that the penalties are too light.
But, to your point, rather than being like many people on both sides of the aisle who are looking for reasons to be angry and basing their angst on intuition rather than fact, I would like to be better educated so that I know whether my angst is well placed or not. WSR does a lot of really good reporting so I think it would be great if they could educate us about this.
According to the NY Post, this is arrest #22 for this fine gentleman. Whatever happened to three strikes?
I believe you’re referring to the “Rockefeller Drug Laws” which were repealed. AFAIK New York has never had a “three strikes” law, which in California applies to serious or vioilent felonies. Are you proposing that someone (possibly mentally ill) be jailed for 25+ years for three instances of randomly punching elderly people on the street?
What’s your alternative under current laws?
Two counts of assaut. What is the 2nd one?
Does anyone evaluate the caliber of the services he is receiving and hold them accountable? Budgets to provide services to felons so they can make better choices keep going up with expensive contracts dished out to providers with CEOS who make hefty salaries. Ok, so what happens when their clients keep offending? I know we can’t force people to accept services but if this gentleman is receiving tax payer funded things like preferred housing, and this is how he repays society, perhaps he shouldn’t be entitled to this privilege.
Whether his problem is mental or just a bad bitter human, when is the safety of others more important? When is it enough?
Freedom requires responsibility and I would prefer to see our caring, compassionate, and well funded programs be spent on people who provide a benefit to society. This guy just takes and hurts others along the way.
NYC becoming unsafe for persons of all ages, particularly women. The offenders should be removed to upstate mental facilities. The NYPD does its part; municipal courts should rapidly act and send the cretins out of the city for rehabilitation, if that might work.
I have lost my empathy towards people who are violent, who steal, who decide the laws don’t apply to them. Something has to give. New Yorkers who abide by the law, pay taxes, we are a generous people but this is now unacceptable. I am born and raised here and don’t easily get rattled but the streets are insane. I literally walk home after work and constantly looking all over to make sure the mentally ill, panhandlers are not getting ready to attack. We don’t deserve this.
In addition to stiffer penalties, perhaps it’s time to make them also pay for the costs associated with the crimes–police investigating, tracking and arrest; court costs and jail time and, of course, medical and other damages to the victims.. Why should we pay for all of the repeat costs of these terrible crimes?
Sadly it’s the same old song time and time again. When are we going to lock these people up? The current DA is an embarrassment.
I googled Hansel Esparragoza – he has an extensive record, which includes serving time in prison. I admire the woman he assaulted in this instance in her advocating for his treatment & determination to live without fear. My disposition is less charitable, and I feel less and less safe.
Who will give stricter penalties, jail time? anyone know who we can write too? It’s so bad. Getting worse. What can be done?
If this man is already in the system and he’s been arrested 22 times with multiple mugs shots and a good quality video of the crime, let’s not cheer too loud for the NYPD taking 2 weeks to arrest Mr. Esparragoza.
Knowing who he is and knowing WHERE he is are two different things. Yes, let’s give the NYPD credit. You could benefit from watching one of the 24/7 crime channels.
Be careful. Another guy, frequently seen close to the 96th Street subway station with a shopping cart and sometimes in a red jumpsuit has been blocking women and pushing them( with his cart) and hitting. He is clearly mentally unstable but unfortunately also a menace.
I was attacked with a shopping cart by a man two years ago, up near Zabar’s. I was able to jump aside and avoid it then, but I might not be able to do it again! What can we do about these terrifying men?
Always call 911 if you think someone is “a danger to themselves or others.” That is the legal standard to allow the police to take someone in for a psychiatric evaluation.
The NYPD does not do their part unless you define their part as congregating in large groups talking to each other, sitting in their cars looking at their phones and goofing off. They are strictly reactive and seldom if ever proactive.
A few days ago, I saw a pack of National Guardsmen walking through Penn Station LIRR area. The one in front carried a rifle. The others had guns. Why did they need to walk together? What a ridiculous waste.
So, how come almost every perp who commits a crime in this City is arrested? Are you arresting them? I don’t know how to spring this on you, but have you seen any of those little black memo books in the past ten years? No, you haven’t. Know why? EVERYTHING COPS DO NOW IS ELECTRONIC AND ON THEIR PHONES. Welcome to the 21st century.
Please, lets not pretend the cops are strictly doing work on their phones. I’m sure some of it is, but I make an effort to take a peek when possible and I’ve seen a lot of Facebook & other clearly personal content.
Obviously the cops are making arrests after the fact, but to Charlotte’s point it is only reactive and are not taking proactive steps like patrolling.
Which is surprising given how much much they’ve gotten from the community over the past few years.
I think we should focus on their acts and not worry too much about their mental issues. Many people have serious mental issues, horrible childhoods, victims themselfs and don’t attack defenseless women. 22 arrests or is it 22 convictions, either way no matter what’s going on in his excuse for a brain he should be locked up and removed from civilized society.
I have no problem with providing treatment for people like this guy — in jail.