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85-Year-Old Building Super Attacks Pink Tea Cup Manager With Hammer: Police

By Janet Upadhye | September 5, 2014 8:19am
 Tommy McFarland is the superintendent of 120 Lafayette Ave. where Pink Tea Cup is housed.
Tommy McFarland is the superintendent of 120 Lafayette Ave. where Pink Tea Cup is housed.
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DNAinfo.com/Janet Upadhye

FORT GREENE — An 85-year-old, hammer-wielding building super attacked the manager and owner of Pink Tea Cup in Fort Greene after a fight over using the basement door, according to court documents and workers.

Tommy McFarland, the super at 120 Lafayette Ave. where Pink Tea Cup is housed, hit manager Anastasia Witt in the knees with a hammer on Aug. 29 around 10 a.m., said Peter Fargo, another manager at the restaurant.

McFarland also tried to hit the eatery's owner Lawrence Page during the rampage at the eatery, the Brooklyn location of the famed West Village soul food eatery, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.

The blows sent Witt, 23, to Brooklyn Hospital, leaving her with pain and bruising, according to court documents and police.

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According to Fargo, the alleged attack stemmed from a dispute over using the basement door for the restaurant.

"She was scared for her life," Fargo said. "She was just going about her daily job."

Fargo added that more than a week after the attack Witt is still limping. The extent of her injuries was unclear.

The Pink Teacup was first opened in 1954 and hosted regulars such as Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby. The original owners sold the eatery to Page, who moved twice before settling on the Brooklyn location in 2013.

McFarland was charged with assault, menacing, harassment and criminal possession of a weapon and released without bail. His lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.

He was set to appear in court on Sept. 30.

Witt declined comment and referred questions to Fargo.

"He needs to be taken off the street," Fargo said.