Sunset Park

Hate crime suspect set to start mental health treatment, brother heads for trial

August 9, 2017 By Paul Frangipane Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Rikers Island. AP file photo by Seth Wenig
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A prisoner who allegedly assaulted a guard while in jail on hate crime charges for a Sunset Park stabbing was deemed unfit for trial and was instead slated to undergo mental health treatment on Wednesday.

Erick Pastuizaca was sent from Judge Danny Chun’s court at Brooklyn Supreme Court to Judge Matthew D’Emic’s to undergo mental health treatment after he was found unfit for trial.

After he was arrested for allegedly stabbing an Arabic man in October, Pastuizaca allegedly punched a prison guard in the face at Rikers Island on Jan. 30, 2016.

Pastuizaca’s lawyer Paul Hirsch told the Brooklyn Eagle that the Brooklyn DA’s Office made the offer for treatment after it received reports of Pastuizaca’s mental health.

Pastuizaca was arrested with his brother Manuel on Oct. 16, 2015 for the alleged assault.

The victim was walking with his wife and 8-year-old son on 41st Street near Sixth Avenue in Sunset Park when Pastuizaca allegedly confronted him, according to court documents.

“You’re Arabic, go back to your country,” Pastuizaca allegedly yelled to the man before stabbing him in the stomach.

Pastuizaca’s brother, Manuel then jumped out of a nearby car and said, “I’m going to stab you because you’re Arabic and you deserve it,” the court documents detail.

He then allegedly stabbed the man in the arm with a different knife while his brother fled.

Manuel Pastuizaca is out on bail and is ready to fight the charges at his Oct. 25 trial date.

Erick Pastuizaca will appear before D’Emic to begin his mental treatment program on Aug. 15. He is being held in custody on $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash bail.

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