Man filmed brandishing knife and taser in NYC's Washington Square Park is FREED ...

Man filmed brandishing knife and taser in NYC's Washington Square Park is FREED ...
Man filmed brandishing knife and taser in NYC's Washington Square Park is FREED ...

A man who started a stampede in a Manhattan park on Friday night when he wielded a Taser and a knife was released without bail by a judge on Sunday, as his lawyer claimed he acted in self defense.

Jason McDermott, 42, appeared before a judge in Manhattan Criminal Court on menacing, reckless endangerment and weapons charges.

He was in Washington Square Park on Friday night - the scene of unruly weekend gatherings throughout the month, which police have battled to control.

From Memorial Day weekend onwards, the usual midnight closure of the park was brought forward to 10pm, in a bid to end the loud late-night drinking and partying, and limit the antisocial behavior. The curfew saw violent confrontations with the police, and running battles in the streets of Greenwich Village as officers forced people from the park at 10pm.

This weekend the 10pm closure was abandoned, in favor of the usual midnight locking up - which does not appear to be enforced.

The court heard on Sunday that, shortly after midnight on Friday night, McDermott pulled out a knife and a Taser, which police said was disguised as a flashlight.

Jason McDermott, 42, was arrested at 12:40am on Saturday morning, after he brandished a Taser and a knife. On Sunday a judge released him without bail on menacing, reckless endangerment and weapons charges

Jason McDermott, 42, was arrested at 12:40am on Saturday morning, after he brandished a Taser and a knife. On Sunday a judge released him without bail on menacing, reckless endangerment and weapons charges

McDermott's lawyer on Sunday insisted that his client was the one who was attacked, and insisted he acted in self defense

McDermott's lawyer on Sunday insisted that his client was the one who was attacked, and insisted he acted in self defense

McDermott is seen in the early hours of Saturday being arrested and taken from Washington Square Park

McDermott is seen in the early hours of Saturday being arrested and taken from Washington Square Park

NYPD tweeted a photo of the Taser, disguised as a flashlight, and a knife with a curved blade. A stampede begun when ;cDermott brandished the weapons in Washington Square Park

NYPD tweeted a photo of the Taser, disguised as a flashlight, and a knife with a curved blade. A stampede begun when ;cDermott brandished the weapons in Washington Square Park

FRIDAY: A 43-year-old woman was left bloodied after being trampled as revelers fled from a man wielding a knife and a taser

FRIDAY: A 43-year-old woman was left bloodied after being trampled as revelers fled from a man wielding a knife and a taser

A 43-year-old woman was seen being carried from the scene by friends in the early hours of Saturday, after she was knocked to the ground during the stampede

A 43-year-old woman was seen being carried from the scene by friends in the early hours of Saturday, after she was knocked to the ground during the stampede

The woman was seen with blood pouring from her face Friday night ad NYPD officers went to her aid in the park

The woman was seen with blood pouring from her face Friday night ad NYPD officers went to her aid in the park 

The crowd, seeing his weapon, fled in terror, leaving a 43-year-old woman trampled.

She was seen with blood pouring from the side of her head, and was taken to Bellevue Hospital with cuts, scrapes and bruises. She was treated and later released.

McDermott was arrested at around 12:40am on Saturday morning.

'Last night in Washington Square Park, a man began threatening a group of people with a taser disguised as a flashlight causing them to flee to safety,' . In the panic, a woman tripped and was injured. The suspect, who was also armed with a knife, was arrested by @NYPD6Pct officers.

Prosecutor Taylor Brisco told Judge Abraham Clott that McDermott claimed to police: 'It was self-defense. They were running at me. I have a knife on me for self-defense.'

But McDermott's lawyer claimed he was the one who was being victimized.

'He was the subject of an attack,' said his lawyer, Damjan Panovski.

'He has no criminal record whatsoever, no contact with the criminal justice system.'

He called the incident 'purely self-defense.'

Police are seen on Friday night stationed in Washington Square Park, before the stampede begun

Police are seen on Friday night stationed in Washington Square Park, before the stampede begun

FRIDAY: Locals have told how the park changes after dark, from a calm, relaxing atmosphere during the day to chaos when the sun goes down

FRIDAY: Locals have told how the park changes after dark, from a calm, relaxing atmosphere during the day to chaos when the sun goes down

Prosecutors did not ask for bail in McDermott's case — but requested supervised release, which the judge granted.

Judge Clott also said the case suggests McDermott 'has trouble working with the ordinary standards of legal behavior.'

McDermott refused to comment as he left court, The New York Post reported.

Friday night's stampede was just another episode in a troubled park. On Saturday, large crowds gathered there again, without incident.

On June 5, revelers clashed with police attempting to impose a 10pm curfew, leading to 23 people being arrested and eight officers injured. 

And on June 11, two men were stabbed during a 10-person brawl. The following morning a 77 year-old cook at the nearby Washington Square Diner was shoved into a plate glass window after kicking a troublemaker out. 

JUNE 5: Two weeks ago revelers clashed with police attempting to impose a 10pm curfew, leading to 23 people being arrested and eight cops injured.

JUNE 5: Two weeks ago revelers clashed with police attempting to impose a 10pm curfew, leading to 23 people being arrested and eight cops injured.

On Wednesday, the NYPD's 6th Precinct called an emergency meeting where hundreds of nearby residents expressed outrage over the non-stop partying in the park. 

In City Hall on Wednesday, Rodney Harrison, the NYPD's Chief of Department - the highest ranking uniformed officer on the force - told reporters that fliers would be handed out to park visitors reminding them to clear out by the midnight closing time. 

On Saturday afternoon, Christa Shaub, who has lived in the area for 15 years, and Amy Heinemams, who has lived in there for six years, said the partying in the park is nothing new especially during the summer months, but 'it's exaggerated post-pandemic.'

Christa Shaub (left) and Amy Heinemams (right) say partying in the park is not new, but it has exaggerated post-pandemic

Christa Shaub (left) and Amy Heinemams (right) say partying in the park is not new, but it has exaggerated post-pandemic

Guitarist Richie says he has been coming to this spot for about eight years, but now makes a point to be out of the park no later than 5pm

Guitarist Richie says he has been coming to this spot for about eight years, but now makes a point to be out of the park no later than 5pm

One group was seen walking around carrying a sign reading 'High 5 me if you like weed', and offering people hand sanitizer

'This is an open park, but you need to have respect for people,' Shaub said. 'There needs to be regulations.'

While they think the park is safe during the day, Heinemams said, 'I won't walk through the park at night.' 

Karen Bartolo, who's now in her late 50s, has a deep reverence for the park's rich history and said

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