Joshua Zinberg, 25, lives on the Upper West Side and has had previous interactions with police. He is charged with attempted murder and assault.
Zinberg lives a block away from where the attack happened and spat and cursed at reporters and photographers as he was being walked out of the police precinct on Thursday afternoon.
The attack happened Wednesday near 114 W. 86th Street Wednesday morning just before 10:30 a.m. The victim, a former professional soccer player, was walking with friends near West 86 Street and Columbus Avenue.
Authorities say the 25-year-old was driving his orange Subaru Crosstreck on West 86th Street when he stopped the car, took a knife out, and then slashed the victim.
The victim was treated at nearby Mount Sinai Hospital and released after undergoing surgery.
Zinberg was taken into custody at around 2 a.m. Thursday morning when officers spotted his car. Police say Zinberg's mother came to them after recognizing his picture on the news.
He has a long criminal history and is known to have mental health issues.
"We walk past people every day that we know they do not have the ability to make the right decision to take care of themselves," Mayor Eric Adams said. "This is a problem that was created when we closed the psychiatric facilities many years ago. We closed them without giving people the support that they deserve."
The slashing comes the same week as the fatal stabbings of three people in unprovoked attacks elsewhere in Manhattan. A man is charged with three counts of murder in that case.
Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the attack on the tourist.
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