Thursday, April 7th, 2011

What was initially reported as a brawl involving upwards of 20 people now appears to be an isolated incident involving a “psychotic” 28-year-old Columbia Business School student.

Ash Sinha, who lives on West 109th, was arraigned from Bellevue Hospital yesterday for his alleged brutal attack on a 22-year-old woman Saturday night. He faces third-degree assault charges for the attack, as well as second-degree assault for allegedly kicking a police officer as he was bring put into an ambulance after his arrest. He was transferred to the psych ward at Bellevue after smashing medical equipment at Harlem Hospital.

DNAinfo quotes Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Dondlinger as saying “In this incident, this defendant approached a stranger, threw her to the ground and viciously attacked her. A large crowd had to pull the defendant off her.”

That “large crowd” seems to have been what prompted early reports that the attack stemmed from a larger melee. It now appears to be quite the opposite — that the crowd represented good Samaritans who jumped in to save the woman.

Sinha is being held on a $25,000 bond or $10,000 cash bail. His defense lawyer, Susan Collins, says the incident “represents his first potential psychotic break.” She states that Sinha’s family told her he had been displaying “unusual, erratic behavior” prior to the attack. Ms. Collins added that Sinha’s father, who has “diplomatic ties,” flew in from India for the arraignment.

“He’s a very bright kid who has a lot of family here supporting him,” said Collins.

DNAinfo has all the sordid details.

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Tags: Ash Sinha, Attack, Columbia, Police