Really? $50K Bail!? Brooklyn Judge Frees Alleged Drunk Driver That Dragged Jewish Man To His Death

By Staff Reporter
Posted on 11/12/17 | News Source: YWN

A judge has freed an allegedly intoxicated man who dragged a Jewish man to his death. He was freed after posting just $50,000 bail.

According to the NY Post, David Cruz, 55, was arraigned Saturday by Judge Robin Sheares in the Thursday night incident that killed a 69-year-old Coney Island man.

“This judge is putting the public in danger by releasing this murder suspect, and she set such low bail that he could well flee to evade justice. Her decision is shocking and irresponsible,” a law-enforcement source told The Post.

NBC New York reports 55-year-old David Cruz allegedly ran over 65-year-old Gavriel Mardaknayevy after a fender bender in Brooklyn Thursday night, dragging the victim for roughly two blocks before leaving him to die in the road in front of his wife.

The New York Daily News reports the initial confrontation occurred in the parking lot of Costco on Second Ave. near 37th St. in Sunset Park, where the victim had been shopping.

Police say the suspect’s van and the other vehicle, which the victim’s wife was driving, were involved in a minor fender bender. The suspect then fled the scene.

The victim hopped in his car and gave chase, catching up with the suspect’s electrical workers van at the intersection of 65th Street and Third Avenue, shortly after 9 PM.

The 65-year-old man, identified as Gavriel Mardaknayevy, of Brooklyn, got out of his wife’s car and tried to confront the 55-year-old driver of the other vehicle. He had walked in front of the suspect’s van when the suspect allegedly accelerated, striking Mardaknayevy and dragging him for at least 2 blocks, authorities say.

Cruz was arrested and still had a blood alcohol level of 0.109 percent four hours later, according to a criminal complaint. The legal standard for drunken driving in New York is 0.08 percent.

He was charged with second-degree murder, drunken driving and reckless driving.

The victim died at NYU Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn.

Chessed Shel Emes was at the scene on Friday to ensure Kavod Hames.