Misogynistic maniac who allegedly attacked 8 people told cops ‘you need to check women sometimes’

A deranged maniac charged with slugging eight women during a misogynistic crime spree allegedly told cops he targeted the victims because “You have to check women sometimes.”

Daquan Armstead, 31, told police that he preferred not to pick on men, Manhattan prosecutors said Wednesday as the accused slugger was arraigned on assault charges and ordered held on $20,000 bail.

“It’s different with men,” Armstead allegedly told cops. “They don’t test you like women.”

Armstead was picked up by cops shortly after midnight and charged with third-degree assault and harassment in eight unprovoked attacks on women this year, authorities said.

That includes an April 17 attack on a 27-year-old administrator at New York University, who was slugged in the face while walking through Washington Square Park around 10:30 a.m., according to police.

Armstead, who was also sought on two arrest warrants after blowing off court appearances dating to 2021 attacks, was first busted this year in February — and allegedly attacked seven more women after a Manhattan judge cut him loose without bail, prosecutors said in court.

In court Wednesday, his lawyer said Armstead suffers from mental health issues.

“He seems to have fallen through the cracks, in regards to no longer receiving mental health treatment,” defense attorney Katherine Bajuk said in court.

“When someone with a mental health concern is incarcerated, nothing good happens with anybody,” she told Judge Michael Ryan. “The person becomes less commented with services they need, and the outcome for everyone and everything is worse.”

The violent spree began on Feb. 12, when police said Armstead allegedly walked up to a 30-year-old woman on Elizabeth Street around 11:50 a.m. and punched her without warning, then fled.

On March 24, he allegedly attacked a 30-year-old woman on Delancey Street around 2 a.m., hitting the victim in the back of the head as she turned. He then ran away.

The following day, Armstead is charged with punching a 36-year-old woman in the back as she walked at Chrystie and Rivington streets around 10:15 a.m., police said.

On April 2, he allegedly slugged another woman after he asked the 38-year-old victim for $1 and she replied that she had no cash — so he punched her in the back of the head.

Police said he is also accused of attacking two women in separate incidents on Delancey Street on April 5 — a 25-year-old who was slugged on the right side of her head around 12:25 p.m. and a 44-year-old who was punched in the face just five minutes later, according to cops.

In the last alleged attack before the assault on the NYU administrator, police said Armstead punched a 24-year-old woman on Stanton Street after she also refused when he asked her for $1 shortly before 10 a.m.

Records show his prior busts date to a 2021 misdemeanor assault case.

He was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation on Wednesday.