Crazed attacker who randomly pummeled NYC rabbi after slugging another stranger cut loose by judge

The crazed attacker who allegedly pummeled a rabbi in a random attack this week — minutes after he slugged another stranger pumping gas — was cut loose by a judge in both cases, prosecutors said Friday. 

Eric Avrutov, 31, allegedly pummeled the 66-year-old Jewish leader and placed him in a headlock on Dahill Road near Cortelyou Road in Kensington around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday — breaking the victim’s shoulder and leaving him petrified, according to a criminal complaint and a member of his congregation. 

But Avrutov was granted supervised release by Judge Edward Daniels — over prosecutors’ request that he be held on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office said.

Eric Avrutov, 31, was released on supervision in the attack on the 66-year-old rabbi Wednesday night, the DA’s office said. Shomrim Brooklyn South Safety Patrol

The attack was considered an unprovoked assault on a stranger — not motivated by hate, according to cops — but it was enough to rattle the rabbi before his community began the celebration of Sukkot.

“More than the physical injuries, he is struggling with the emotional trauma of the incident,” Avrumi Herbst, a member of the rabbi’s synagogue and a close personal confidant, said in an email. “This morning, he was further distressed when the DA’s office notified him that the suspect was released again.”

“I feel it is important to point out that the Rabbi is very resilient and accepts everything that has befallen him as the will of G-d, and he plans to officiate normally during the upcoming holiday, albeit with the physical limitations imposed on him by his shoulder injury,” Herbst added. 

The heinous beatdown left the rabbi bruised with a fractured shoulder. Shomrim Brooklyn South Safety Patrol

“Nevertheless he is concerned for his personal safety and the safety of his neighbors and the casual release of the perpetrator just added to that.”

Just minutes before the attack on the rabbi, Avrutov allegedly slugged another man, 60, on the side of the face as he pumped gas at the Shell station around the corner on Cortelyou Road, police said.

In that case, prosecutors asked for the same bail amount, but Judge Daniels again cut Avrutov loose on supervision. 

The reasoning behind the judge’s decisions in both cases was not immediately clear. 

The rabbi was released from Maimonides Medical Center, and despite his serious injuries, still plans to officiate Sukkot services. Getty Images

Before the back-to-back Wednesday attacks, Avrutov had five previous arrests, police said. 

He last found himself in cuffs when he allegedly punched a 23-year-old man and 22-year-old woman in the face at random at Brighton 12th Street and Brighton Beach Avenue around 11:30 a.m. Monday, police said. 

But Judge Duane Frankson had no choice but to grant him supervised release because the top charge against him – misdemeanor assault – was not eligible for bail, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. 

Avrutov was also arrested on Sunday for allegedly showing up at his grandmother’s Brooklyn home in violation of an order of protection back in June, and charged with criminal contempt, prosecutors said. 

Prosecutors asked that he be held on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond, but Frankson again cut him loose on supervision, according to the DA’s office. 

Avrutov’s record also includes a gun possession rap from 2024, one criminal trespass arrest and another bust for violating an order of protection, police said.

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