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Arrests in anti-gay beating of 'Top Chef' contestant

By Stone Martindale Nov 18, 2007, 18:47 GMT

Two New York women have been arrested in an attack on a gay former "Top Chef" reality show contestant and her friends, police said.

Nassau County police announced the arrests Saturday, a day after victim Josie Smith-Malave's attorney said she had filed a complaint accusing investigators of not followig up on the report.

Police said Friday that an arrest had recently been made and another was imminent.

Smith-Malave appeared on Season 2 of the Bravo network show, and three other women were assaulted by about a dozen people after being thrown out of a Sea Cliff bar on Sept. 1, according to police.

Allegedly the attackers hurled gay insults, spat on and hit them, police said.

Melissa Trimarchi, 21, was arrested Saturday night on a misdemeanor assault charge, police said. She was released on an appearance ticket until a Nov. 30 court date.

Police also said Saturday that Elizabeth Borroughs, 20, had been arrested Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge of aggravated harassment. She also was released on an appearance ticket and is due in court Friday.

Smith-Malave's lawyer, Yetta Kurland, said police hadn't gone after all suspects vigorously and had failed "to treat the vicious attack...as the violent hate crime that it was."

Police spokesman Sgt. Anthony Repalone said Friday that the investigation was active, and Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey was monitoring it personally.

Bravo listed Smith-Malave as a former sous-chef for the Marlow and Sons restaurant in Brooklyn.