Ex-con busted for hitting ‘Boardwalk’ star with rock also bashed Samaritan: cops
The man accused of hurling a rock at “Boardwalk Empire” star Michael Stuhlbarg in Central Park attacked a good Samaritan trying to give the homeless man his coat two years ago, police said Tuesday.
Xavier Israel, who has a history of mental illness, was arrested on Jan. 12, 2022, for attacking a 58-yearold Queens man who literally gave him the coat off his back when he saw Israel sleeping on the sidewalk outside Bryant Park near Fifth Ave. and 42nd St. at 8:40 a.m.
Israel, now 27, stood up, threw the coat at the victim and then shoved him several times, knocking him to the ground, police said. He then pounced on the good Samaritan, punching him in the face and robbing him of his wallet before running off.
Cops arrested Israel a few blocks away with the victim’s wallet. The case was later linked with two other assaults in a 10-day span that year.
In October 2022, he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery for one of the incidents and received a twoyear sentence and two years’ postrelease supervision.
Records show he was paroled on Dec. 7. His parole is due to end in September 2025.
Stuhlbarg, who portrayed gangster Arnold Rothstein in “Boardwalk Empire” was running alone in Central Park near E. 90th St. and East Drive when Israel allegedly hurled a rock at him at about 7:45 p.m. Sunday, cops said. The impact left the actor with a minor cut to his head.
A stunned Stuhlbarg chased the assailant out of the park, where cops stationed outside the Russian Consulate on E. 91st St. near Fifth Ave. grabbed the suspect.
Israel, charged with assault, was ordered held on $50,000 bail during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday night.
“Despite his recent release on parole, the defendant attacked a total stranger in Central Park by throwing a rock at the … victim on the back of the head,” Assistant District Attorney Madison Seelman said in requesting bail.