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A verbal confrontation at an Upper West Side school playground led to a slashing and an arrest this week.
“The fact that this happened on school grounds is insane,” said our tipster who first alerted us to the incident.
NYPD officials confirmed with ILTUWS that 51-year-old Marvin Ganpat was arrested on 2nd Degree Assault Charges after slashing a 45-year-old male at 83rd and Columbus Avenue. The incident occurred on Wednesday at about 6 p.m.
Our tipster, who provided this video of part of the confrontation, told us there were three men involved in the fight, and that the primary suspect “has been harassing everyone that walks by—even threaten[ing] to shoot and kill [her] fiance and dog.”
Our tipster tells us this is the man who was arrested and who’s been threatening passersby. NYPD officials tell us Marvin Ganpat is the name of the arrested.
“He threatens most people that walk by-women, children, pets etc. he’s extremely scary,” our tipster said, adding that “He constantly is saying ‘wanna fight?'”
Police told ILTUWS that Ganpat’s address of record is 126 West 83rd Street, located across the street from the playground. (This also happens to be the address where a 74-year-old woman was murdered by a building staff member in 2023.)
On the same block, at 106-108 West 83rd Street, a safe haven shelter managed by Breaking Ground opened in 2023, raising safety concerns due to its proximity to a school. According to our tipster–this has not been confirmed by the NYPD–the other two individuals involved in the altercation both reside at the shelter.
“Having the shelter with[in] this proximity to the school is really bad,” our tipster continued. “And in general the policing of the shelter and activities are really bad. There have been several cases of people breaking into buildings, stealing packages, on doorsteps drunk/doing drugs.”
“The block is really feeling the impacts and we are just scared for our safety.”Police confirm that a 51-year-old man was arrested for a violent slashing on Wednesday. It took place at the school playground on 83rd and Columbus. Full story coming soon. pic.twitter.com/pPVtgrKE3E
— I Love The Upper West Side (@iLoveTheUWS) July 24, 2025
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I bet Marvin will not spend a day in jail. And no bail will be required. He will be sentenced to anger management classes and go back to further slashing or worse.
How much are you wagering?
wrong again. change.
You are right, He is allready back home since early this morning!
Oscar Sanchez, the corrupt and crooked super/property manager, will be pleased that his boy is back home. Am I right?
Give him free Mets tickets and an OMNY card — that’ll rehabilitate him!
Ugh. Relax.
He’s already back. I saw him at 83rd and Columbus this afternoon sitting on some steps and barking at people walking by. Relax on that.
Ish,….you are incorrect a lot. Does it cause any reflection?
No rational person wants this behavior in our neighborhood. Good reason why shelters don’t belong here. Put them somewhere else. If you have a different opinion and you’re OK with this violence, I’d like to ask why you don’t let these psychos stay in your apartment.
Real men wouldn’t let this happen in their communities, and to their women and children.
Good H:
“their women”?
Have you no dignity? What kind of a man are YOU?
wrong again, this time by gender.
“Real men” who say “You Tarzan, me Jane”?
Real Men who protect women. Can you even imagine?
Why bring up the newish shelter on the same block, when that is not the arrestee listed address?
Then, sounds like the suspect has been threatening people with violence for some time, why did it take a slashing to get him arrested?
This newsroom and the broader community to pay attention to what’s happening at 126 West 83rd Street, a publicly subsidized building owned by St. Matthew’s–St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church and managed by Shinda Management.
This violent person, who was quietly placed into the building by unqualified staff, slashed three people near PS 9, he same man tenants had warned about for months. The same person who has tenants in a state of fear.
This mirrors the tragic death of Maria Hernandez, another preventable case tied to negligent placement and zero oversight. Reports about this individual’s behavior were sent directly to Shinda and the Church. No action was taken.
Oh, the Church is currently under investigation for financial misconduct. The building has 79 active violations, but the violence is what finally broke through. Tenants have been ringing the alarm for years. How many more tragedies before someone steps in?
This is not just a housing issue. It’s about public safety, institutional failure, and the silent unraveling of a neighborhood.
Please look into this. This is a much bigger issue of negligence and corruption.
Things will change when Zoron the moron is elected your mayor.
VERY clever
Your “point” would seem a bit better if you could spell.
Advocate wrote:
> the Church is currently under investigation for financial misconduct.
Where is the evidence for this statement/
Don’t worry, you’ll see. The folks at Shinda, their staff of evil doers and the church, whether knowingly or unknowingly, will all be exposed for their evil ways against the most vulnerable.
“For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor secret that shall not be known and come into open view. Luke 8:17
A Fatiguer fatiguing. Surprise.
Maybe Zorhan can talk him down next time.
Morvin is a Bi Polar, Manic Depressed person on the verge of Schizophrenia… The system has failed to rehabilitate him and continue to place him in public housing without required mental care that is needed, clearly we can see he is an EDP, he also is aware of it. he needs to be rehabilitated as he is self medicated with alcohol and drugs and prolly off his needed meds for his mental health, He spent almost 40+ years in Mount Vernon and now has been moved to NYC, Which is believe the public housing authority and all else involved, just spend our tax payer dollars housing these people waiting for them to die, instead of really providing the help they need. Clearly he is not is his right mind, but when someone like him becomes and nuisance he is public enemy number one. Yes I am related to him, and yes WE have tried to help him, But in this state you have to be willing to help yourself but if your mentally ill how does that work !!???!!??!!??!!???
He keeps getting locked up and let back out why won’t the judges give him an outpatient program!!??!!??!
They just think he will kill himself first, and all the other people like him.
Sometimes we need to know someone’s story
Yes he is a menace right now, but the help he needs is not being provided by the same organization that is providing him free housing.