The homeless attacker who punched “Boardwalk Empire” actor Steve Buscemi in the eye was sent to jail on $50,000 cash bail at his arraignment Saturday, court records show.
Clifton Williams is accused of walking up to Mr. Buscemi, 66, on 3rd Avenue in Kips Bay at 11:39 a.m. on May 8, randomly punching the actor, and then casually walking away.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Williams, Buscemi fell to the ground and suffered “bleeding from the eyes, swelling, bruising, and significant pain.”
Because Buscemi is over 65, Williams, 50, was charged with second-degree assault, a felony.
He was also charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly attacking a 22-year-old Asian man 10 minutes before attacking the “Fargo” star.
During the hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Barry said the suspect “has a significant criminal history, including many years of assault and other violent crimes in both Kentucky and Florida.” said.
“I have been in New York for less than a month,” Williams added, asking for $100,000 bail.
Judge Marisol Martinez Alonso sent Williams, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 197 pounds, to Rikers Island Jail on $50,000 cash or $150,000 bail, according to court records.
NYPD officers identified the man from surveillance footage near the scene of the attack and were searching the city, including his last known address, a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, police officials said.
When officers confronted Williams with a surveillance photo, he admitted that he was the man in the photo and that he had committed both assaults, according to the criminal complaint.
“Yes, sir,” Williams said in a loud, clear voice during his court appearance, wearing black jeans, a long-sleeved black sweatshirt and gray high-top shoes.
In addition to the two attacks on May 8, another man told the Post that Williams tried to hit him and threatened to kill him around 12:30 on Friday, the same day he was arrested. did.
Mark Belli, a plumber, said the encounter occurred at 260 11th Street, where Belli works.
“He threw a punch at me,” the 54-year-old said. “I avoided it. He tried to kick me and his shoe fell off. He chased me and I took a picture. He said, ‘If I catch you, I’ll kill you.’
Berry said Williams lives in a cardboard box around the corner from the building and is angry that someone took his box.
Although the report could not be immediately confirmed, Berry believes the city received the information during a sweep of homeless people.
He took a photo of Williams, called 911 to report the harassment, said he was told to file a report, and said he planned to do so.
