Posted on May 4, 2021

Suspect Arrested in Vicious, Unprovoked Assault on Asian Man in Manhattan

WABC, April 29, 2021

Police have made an arrest in the assault of a 61-year-old Asian man who is now fighting for his life.

Authorities say 49-year-old Jarrod Powell was taken into custody thanks to tips from the community, who identified him as the suspect who stomped the victim in East Harlem in a vicious unprovoked attack.

Jarrod Powell

Jarrod Powell

Detectives were told Powell was seen at a nearby shelter on East 125th Street, and they made the arrest Monday. Charges against him were upgraded Tuesday to attempted murder and two counts of assault as a hate crime.

The victim’s family says Yao Pan Ma remains in a coma, and after news of the arrest spread, the community came together to support the family.

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Ma, a Chinese immigrant, was collecting cans on Third Avenue and 125th Street in East Harlem Friday night when he was attacked from behind and repeatedly stomped on as he laid helpless on the ground.

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Ma’s niece says he immigrated to New York two years ago and moved to Harlem after their Chinatown apartment burned down, and he recently lost his job to COVID. Collecting cans was how he helped to support his family.

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According to recent NYPD statistics, hate crimes are up 45% against Asians.

Powell has a lengthy and violent arrest record. In January 25, 1998, he kidnapped 23-year-old woman from an apartment on Staten Island, took her to another location and sexually assaulted her. {snip}

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When asked about the recent attack, Powell told reporters he didn’t assault anyone and that the victim actually attacked him.

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