The man accused of hurling a rock at “Boardwalk Empire” star Michael Stuhlbarg in Central Park attacked a good Samaritan trying to give the homeless man his coat two years ago, police said Tuesday.
Xavier Israel, who has a history of mental illness, was arrested on Jan. 12, 2022, for attacking a 58-year-old Queens man who literally gave him the coat off his back when he saw Israel sleeping on the sidewalk outside Bryant Park near Fifth Ave. and 42nd St. at 8:40 a.m.
Israel, now 27, stood up, threw the coat at the victim and then shoved him several times, knocking him to the ground, police said. He then pounced on the good Samaritan, punching him in the face and robbing him of his wallet before running off.
Cops arrested Israel a few blocks away with the victim’s wallet. The case was later linked with two other assaults in a 10-day span that year.
In October 2022, he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery for one of the incidents and received a two-year sentence and two years postrelease supervision.
Records show he was conditionally released by parole on Dec. 7. His parole is due to end in September 2025.
Stuhlbarg, who portrayed gangster Arnold Rothstein in “Boardwalk Empire” was running alone in Central Park near E. 90th St. and East Drive when Israel allegedly hurled a rock at him about 7:45 p.m. Sunday, cops said. The impact left the actor with a minor cut to his head.
A stunned Stuhlbarg chased the assailant out of the park, where cops stationed outside the Russian Consulate on E. 91st St. near Fifth Ave. grabbed the suspect.
Xavier, charged with assault, was ordered held on $50,000 bail during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday night.
