Police sources and witnesses report that Sherlock Alana, a 37-year-old man from the Bronx, was arrested this week after allegedly pushing his 70-year-old grandmother into a wall at a midtown metro station in Los Angeles. This incident is part of a troubling pattern, as Alana has been previously arrested 20 times, including for hate crimes against two women.
The victim, Janet Parvicard, was at Lexington Avenue when the attack occurred. “I don’t understand why they’re letting people like this roam free,” Parvicard expressed in a phone interview. “I mean, what’s next? He’s out here trying to seriously hurt someone.”
Alana’s past is not clean. About ten years ago, he pleaded guilty to assaulting two women in a Queens subway station, mistakenly believing they were of Indian descent; one was actually from Bangladesh. During that incident, he reportedly told them, “I hate Indian people,” before attacking.
Prosecutors mentioned he was sentenced to nine months for one of those hate crime assaults, although it’s unclear how much time he actually served.
According to law enforcement, Alana’s recent encounters have involved robbery, leading to a significant number of arrests this year. In the latest attack, while Parvicard was navigating the underground path to Station 6, he suddenly pushed her against the wall. “I was just about to catch the train when he came up to me and asked, ‘What are you doing here?’ Then he shoved me into the wall and took off,” she recalled, still shaken by the experience.
The chaotic incident left Parvicard “shocked.” “I was so confused. One moment I was fine, and the next, I was pushed without any reason,” she said. “I didn’t see his face, but my friend did and started yelling for help.” Attempts by other passengers to intervene didn’t stop Alana from escaping.
Fortunately, he was later recognized and arrested at the Lexington Avenue-125th Street Subway station. Reports say that police found a knife in his belongings, and he now faces charges including second-degree assault and harassment.
Reflecting on the arrest, Parvicard expressed relief, saying, “I’m so glad because I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.” Currently back in Los Angeles, she mentioned that while she’s visited New York several times before, she now feels hesitant about riding the subway again.
It’s unsettling, really. “I can’t believe this happened for no reason,” Parvicard said. “When someone just walks up and pushes you? That’s not something you expect to encounter, especially not in Los Angeles, where things seem a little calmer. It’s honestly frightening.”
