A woman accused of attacking several patrons at a Brooklyn restaurant has been released by a judge, despite prosecutors pushing for bail. Hilda Gruron, 44, allegedly punched a 63-year-old man inside Burrito Bar & Kitchen and assaulted four others outside on Saturday. Judge Jacob Zelmanowitz granted her supervised release.
Sources indicate that Gruron has a past with seven convictions, including one for assault. Prosecutors had requested a bail set at either $40,000 cash or $80,000 bail, but the judge proceeded with the release.
It appears that Gruron’s first victim was unsuspecting when she struck him in the restaurant around 3:30 p.m. She then left the eatery and attacked more individuals, including a 52-year-old man and two women, aged 20 and 53, hitting them in the face.
Documents mention that she even used a cell phone to strike one of the victims. One man was walking with his wife and two young children when he was assaulted. The situation escalated further when Gruron threatened another woman with a knife while shouting and swearing.
Interestingly, while one victim wasn’t actually harmed, they were disturbed by the threats made against them. A person who witnessed the incident described Gruron as having a “stone face,” lacking any visible anger.
Moreover, another victim remarked on Gruron’s appearance, noting she seemed composed and not homeless, apart from the blood running down one side of her face.
Gruron is up against multiple charges like assault, attempted assault, threatening a child, criminal possession of a weapon, and harassment. She is set to reappear in court on June 1.
Judge Zelmanowitz, who has been on the bench for over two decades, was recently appointed as a civil court judge but is temporarily handling criminal cases. He expressed a desire to maintain humility in his judicial role.
