The man who’s been spitting at quite a few Upper East Siders has made national headlines, with a December 13 write-up and identity reveal by Inside Edition.
As we mentioned in a follow up to our recent report, the individual was arrested – though he’d also been arrested twice in November.
Now revealed as 26-year-old James Hasho by Ruth Bashinsky of Inside Edition – who also referred to him as the “serial spitter” – the unhinged man was released within 48 hours of his most recent arrest.
“Mr. Hasho was arraigned on both of these complaints earlier today. He was released on his own recognizance. Charges are not eligible for monetary bail,” a spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office told the publication.
According to public records, Hasho’s charges include criminal mischief, menacing, harassment, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Hasho’s attorney told Inside Edition “he is very mentally ill. He left court in the care of the Mayor’s crisis intervention taskforce. They identified him as someone in need of services.”
In addition to the abundance of adults who say Hasho has spat at them, one Upper East Sider told the publication that “she saw who she believed was the same man walk through an organized school group of 8- and 9-year-old boys in Carl Schurz Park and spit on one of the kids.” Another person claims to have seen him spit at someone in a wheelchair.
