The boyfriend of a woman who jumped off the top of a Times Square hotel told police he “remember[ed] punching” his girlfriend before her fatal leap, prosecutors said at his arraignment Wednesday night.
Tyler Griffen, 24, reportedly made the confession in a recorded statement to cops, Assistant District Attorney Madeline Holbrook said at the Manhattan Criminal Court hearing where Griffen was arraigned on charges of assault, reckless endangerment and acting in a manner injurious to a child.
The Colorado resident had gotten into a violent fight with his 20-year-old girlfriend Dezirae Andersen inside the OYO Times Square hotel on West 47th Street on Tuesday night.
He allegedly punched Anderson repeatedly during the clash that started in a 10th-floor room and spilled out in a hall, police said.
He’s also accused of yanking Anderson’s infant’s arm so forcefully that the 8-month-old child tumbled down a flight of stairs, according to cops and sources.
Another hotel guest caught the baby, who was not hurt.
Judge Paul McDonell released a sullen-looking Griffen, who has no criminal record, following the arraignment.
Holbrook requested McDonell grant a full order of protection for the 8-month-old girl, who was expected to be placed in the care of child services.
Griffen told police in a recorded statement, “I remember punching my girlfriend,” according to Holbrook.
“The defendant punched this child’s mother several times about the body,” she said. “Additionally, the defendant allegedly tossed the infant child down a flight of steps into the hands of a stranger. For those reasons, the people believe that a full order of protection is necessary for the child’s safety.”
McDonell ordered Griffen show up to an intake meeting with a supervised release agency on Thursday. If he fails to show, he’ll be rearrested, the judge warned.
Following the couple’s fight that allegedly left Andersen covered in bruises, the young mom made her way to the roof of the hotel and jumped off, police and sources said.
She landed on the second-floor scaffolding and was pronounced dead at the scene, cops said.
When officers arrived, they found Griffen acting erratically in the lobby of the hotel and tased him before arresting him.
He was placed in an ambulance and brought to Bellevue Hospital for a mental evaluation and was later hit with criminal charges.
Griffen was wearing a black hoodie during his court appearance and covered his face with its hood as he exited the courtroom flanked by his lawyers. He refused to answer a reporter’s questions as he walked by silently.
His next court date is set for June 15.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
