NYC subway ‘ninja’ suspect held on $35,000 bail for smacking victim with sword sheath
An unhinged man who allegedly assaulted a straphanger with a sword sheath missed his mother’s funeral Saturday — because he was being arraigned on assault charges in the bizarre “ninja” attack on the subway.
Selwyn Bernardez, 27, was caught on video “waving” the weapon around in a busy subway car, a prosecutor said.
Bernardez was charged with second-degree assault at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal court Saturday afternoon, the same time his family was burying their mom, his lawyer said.
Judge Frank Nervo set bail at $35,000.
Bernardez was arrested Friday afternoon on the corner of Lispenard Street and West Broadway in Lower Manhattan, less than half a mile from where he allegedly smacked his 29-year-old victim over the head with the encased weapon the day before, the NYPD said.
The victim, Larry Griffin II, is on parole for leaving at least two rice cooker bombs in the Fulton Street subway station in 2019.
Griffin followed Bernardez into a northbound A train as it approached the Chambers Street Station and got into an argument at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, police sources have told The Post.
When both men stepped off the train, Bernardez allegedly clocked Griffin over the head, police said.
On Saturday, Bernardez wore a light gray hoodie and dark gray pants and kept quiet during the 10-minute arraignment. He wore a mask on his face and his hands were cuffed behind his back.
Assistant District Attorney Kristen Freda, who requested $25,000 bail, said her office has a “strong case” and intends to file a grand jury notice.
Bernardez “could be seen on video surveillance waving a sword around in a busy subway car and continued to do so as the train pulled into the Chambers Street station,” she said, noting the attack caused “a deep laceration that required at least three staples to treat.”
Freda underscored that Bernardez — “a persistent felon” — has previously failed to appear in court and he took off for Brooklyn after the disturbing incident.
Public Defender Gabriela Mejias unsuccessfully argued for supervised release, noting Bernardez is a “life-long New Yorker” and current Brooklyn resident who blew off a court appearance in 2021, when he was 17 years old.
“I do have reason to believe that this was not an unprovoked incident. That this was a dispute between two parties,” Mejias said. She said Bernardez has family in New York, but he’s unemployed and his family doesn’t have the resources to make bail.
“He is one of six siblings. His mother passed away last week and her funeral, I’m told is this afternoon. This is someone who wants to come back to court and fight the allegations,” she said.
