NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A man was indicted on Wednesday on charges related to the violent assault of a 91-year-old man in Manhattan in February that sent him to rehab for over a month, prosecutors said.
Christian Torres, 45, of Brooklyn, is charged with first-degree assault, first-degree attempt to commit the crime of robbery and second-degree assault, which are all felonies.
On Feb. 1, Torres allegedly approached the victim at about 10:25 p.m. as he was walking home with groceries he bought from a fruit stand vendor on the corner of Second Avenue and East 86th Street.
As the victim approached First Avenue, Torres allegedly tried to grab his wallet before shoving the older adult to the ground and fleeing toward Second Avenue in a botched robbery attempt, officials said.
The 91-year-old suffered six broken ribs and a hematoma to his liver from the attack. He was treated at Mt. Sinai Morningside Hospital for a week before being transferred to Amsterdam Nursing Home, a rehabilitation center.
The victim, who the New York Post identified as Hyman Silverglad and interviewed following Torres' Feb. 11 arrest by Transit police officers, spent almost a month in the facility before being discharged to his home.
Silverglad is still in recovery, prosecutors said.
My thoughts are with the victim, who is still suffering from the pain caused by this attack," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. "We take attacks on older members of our community very seriously, and no one should have to fear for their safety when walking in Manhattan."
According to the criminal complaint obtained by the Post, Torres has 49 prior convictions for a variety of misdemeanors and six felonies
"I'm a lawyer, he should have rights—but his record indicates that if you put him back out on the streets, you are putting a dangerous man on the streets," Silverglad told the Post. "Someone who caused injuries to the sick and aged—no! He is going to do it again and again."
Silverglad also disclosed to the Post that he is battling cancer and kidney failure on top of managing the injuries from his assault. He said the assault has made him consider moving out of the city for "a safer place."
