NYC career criminal racked up 54 arrests, dealt with mental health issues but was still on streets before alleged subway stabbing spree: sources

The knife-wielding maniac who allegedly sliced two people in a pair of subway stabbings last week is a well-known recidivist with a violent past who’s been arrested dozens of times but continually ended up back on the streets, The Post learned.Suspected slasher Jamar Banks racked up 54 arrests for a shooting, stabbings, fare-jumping and domestic violence as he exhibited a history of mental illness issues, sources said.He was picked again up by the NYPD’s Warrant Squad Sunday and charged with assault and weapons possession in his latest violent attacks, police sources told The Post.The suspect was psychologically evaluated at least once while in custody over the last four years, and cops flagged him four times as being a potentially suicidal, emotionally disturbed person, sources said.A frequent subject of his misguided rage was his uncle, who lived in the Bronx — sources said Jamar Banks was arrested for two dozen domestic incidents between 2004 and 2021.He was also put on the transit offender recidivist database five times since 2020, has been arrested dozens of times for fare evasion since 1992, the sources said.He’s also been picked up on a slew of arrests on drug charges, sources added.Banks was fingered in January for a Manhattan robbery pattern that includes a variety of larcenies and thefts — including accusations that he stole $222 worth of soap from Walgreens on Nov.

14 and $580 of mouthwash on Oct.30, sources added.

 Earlier in 2024, Banks allegedly stole soap and body wash from a Queens Walgreens in April; more than $2,100 worth of beauty products from a Bronx Walgreens in June; and two bottles of Raid and a container of Vaseline from a Bronx Walgreens later that month.He was also hit with resisting arrest charges for the last theft because he allegedly fought back when a cop tried to arrest him, according to a criminal complaint.

The officerzapped him with a stun gun, then locked him up, the complaint said.Banks, 52, was arrested around mi...