Judge raises bail for hate crime suspect who assaulted a prison guard

June 21, 2017 By Paul Frangipane Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Erick Pastuizaca’s bail was raised by Judge Danny Chun at Brooklyn Supreme Court after he allegedly stabbed a man for speaking Arabic and assaulted a prison guard. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese.

Share this:

A Brooklyn judge raised bail on a prisoner after he beat a prison guard while awaiting trial on hate-crime charges in a Sunset Park stabbing.

Erick Pastuizaca, who had been deemed unfit for trial after a mental exam according to a report by DNAInfo.com, was wearing a white plastic bracelet with lettering on it next to his handcuffs when Judge Danny Chun raised his bail to $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Pastuizaca and his brother Manuel were arrested on Oct. 16, 2015 for allegedly stabbing an Arabic father who was walking with his wife and 8-year-old son on 41st Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues in Sunset Park.

While standing next to a parked Toyota Avalon, Pastuizaca began cursing at the victim while his brother and 4-year-old nephew looked on from inside the car, according to a complaint by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.

“You’re a p—y, why are you walking away?” Pastuizaca said to the man, according to the complaint.

Pastuizaca then allegedly told the man, “You’re Arabic, go back to your country,” before he stabbed the victim in the stomach and fled.

The suspect’s brother then stepped out of the car and threatened the wounded man.

“I’m going to stab you because you’re Arabic and you deserve it,” he said, allegedly stabbing the victim in the arm with a different knife.

Both brothers were arrested on hate crime assault charges and Manuel Pastuizaca is out on bail.

Manuel Pastuizaca’s attorney Joshua Stevens said it is likely that his client will go to trial.

After the initial incident, Erick Pastuizaca was arrested on another assault charge for punching a prison guard in the face at George Mothan Detention Center on Jan. 30, 2016.

Erick Pastuizaca’s attorney Paul Hirsch declined to comment on his client’s mental health.

The next court date for the brothers is Aug. 9.