A driver who barreled into three people outside Google’s Manhattan offices was half naked and reeked gasoline upon his arrest, prosecutors alleged at his first court appearance.
Jason Bitton, 24, was charged with attempted assault, attempted arson, reckless endangerment, and related offenses at his Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment late Thursday.
A criminal complaint says police found an open can of gasoline emblazoned with the words “GOOGLE [TORTURED] ME” on the floor in the back of Bitton’s car after the crash on Tuesday.
Cops also found a bunch of lighters, according to the complaint.
Prosecutors said the 24-year-old careened into pedestrians in a white Ford Fusion after mounting the sidewalk at the corner of W. 15th St. and 10th Ave. in Chelsea just after 6 p.m. Tuesday, and then crashed into a building at 60 10th Ave.
Bitton stalled momentarily at the intersection before he turned left and without warning aimed at four people walking on the sidewalk, prosecutors said.
His car hit three women, who were treated for cuts and bruises at nearby Lenox Hill Greenwich Village Hospital.
An officer responding to the chaotic scene smelled strong fumes when he broke a window to extract Bitton from the vehicle.
At arraignment, Bitton was given the option to post $50,000 cash bail, a $150,000 insurance company bond, or a $300,000 partially-secured bond.
Authorities say the Bronx man has struggled with mental health issues. In a $10 billion lawsuit, he sued Google in 2019 for giving him “photophobia” from “uncontrollably excessive blinding and disorienting ‘flashing’/brightness on various Google LLC products.” The lawsuit was dismissed.
Bitton’s lawyer did not immediately return a request seeking comment.