Maniac Released from Psych Ward Hours Before He Pushed Elderly Teacher to His Death in Subway: Cops

A maniac repeat offender released from a psych ward after just an hour allegedly shoved an elderly man to his death down Manhattan subway steps in an unprovoked attack Thursday night — with an outraged poilce source blasting the killing as a “complete collapse” of City Hall’s approach to mental health.

Rhamell Burke — a 32-year-old serial troublemaker who has been arrested four times since February — mysteriously walked free from Bellevue Hospital about an hour after cops cuffed him and checked him in as an “emotionally disturbed person” around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, according to police.

The violent brute was released around 4:40 p.m. — and launched his fatal attack on 76-year-old stranger Ross Falzone, who worked as a teacher, at a Chelsea subway station about five hours later, while still sporting his hospital bracelet.

“This happens all the time,” a high-ranking NYPD cop told The Post Friday, slamming the tragedy as a “complete collapse” of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s response to mental illness.

“We brought him in at 3:30 p.m. and he was released just before 5 p.m. Meanwhile, if you or I walked into Bellevue for a headache, it would take 8 hours just to be seen. NYPD uses its involuntary removal powers all the time. And they just get right out with an Advil.” (Read more from “Maniac Released from Psych Ward Hours Before He Pushed Elderly Teacher to His Death in Subway: Cops” HERE)

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