A German violinist was arrested Friday after he allegedly forced his way into a woman's room in the Hudson Hotel and choked her. Stefan Arzberger, who is the lead musician for the acclaimed Leipzig String Quartet, was completely naked during the assault, according to police.
Investigators say Arzberger knocked on the woman's door around 8 a.m. Friday and forced his way in when she opened it slightly. Arzberger allegedly choked the woman so hard that the blood vessels in her eyes burst, but the victim, whom the Post describes as a tourist from North Carolina, did not require hospitalization. She told police she had not met nor seen Arzberger until he showed up naked at her door.
Arzberger, 42, was charged with burglary, strangulation, unlawful imprisonment, and assault. He was released on Saturday on $100,000 bail, but had to surrender his passport.
"He’s an upstanding member of society without a criminal record who has devoted his life to the arts," attorney Nicholas Kaizer told the Post. It's unclear what sparked Arzberger's "rampage," but one source tells the tabloid that someone slipped a drug into his drink at the hotel bar, and he has no memory of what happened.
Early today the Leipzig String Quartet issued a statement portraying Arzberger as the victim:
We have to announce that Stefan became on Sat. 26th victim of a serious crime in New York City. Things are in clearance now. At this time the lawyers do not allow to divulge more information. We feel great solidarity and hope for a sudden end of that nightmare! Stefan, we are with you!
