Restaurant critic wants justice served

GUILDERLAND — A local restaurant critic who was punched last October says he’s pleased an arrest has been made in the assault.

Gerald Spiegel, 36, of Poestenkill, was arrested on April 2 for two counts of third-degree assault.

“I’m pleased there’s been an arrest and am grateful to the Guilderland Police and district attorney’s office…I look forward to justice being served,” said Steve Barnes, who reviews restaurants for the Times Union. “If it is proven that a restaurant hired Spiegel and his accomplice, or otherwise put them up to the alleged attack, because of something I wrote, as has been suggested, I hope everyone else involved is brought to justice, too.”

Barnes was one of two men assaulted, by two people, in the parking lot of Creo Restaurant, in Stuyvestant Plaza, on Oct. 17, 2008. According to a Guilderland Police report issued in the fall, Barnes was punched in the face. 

Spiegel was arraigned in Guilderland Town Court before Justice Denise Randall and is due back in four weeks. Randall released Spiegel on $1000 cash or bond bail and issued an order of protection for both victims, according to a release from the Guilderland Police.

Captain Curtis Cox of the Guilderland Police Department said Spiegel was arrested after months of investigation and identification processes. The investigation is still open as police look for the second assailant.

“It would be premature for me to comment on motivation or admission of guilt,” said Cox.