Crime Watch
BY JERRY DANZIG
Man hit with hammer, robbedA man walking on West Third Street between Macdougal and Sullivan Streets late Monday, Jan. 9, was hit with a hammer and robbed, NYU’s Department of Public Safety said.
The man, who is not affiliated with NYU, was hit on the head with a hammer from behind by a man who then demanded money, a release from the department said. The robber, described as wearing a ski mask, a black hooded ski jacket and dark blue jeans, then hit his victim in the head a second time. The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment. There was no word on his condition. City police are investigating, the release said.
Attempted muggingAn attempted early afternoon mugging was thwarted, when a Good Samaritan stepped in and detained the would-be-mugger until officers arrived, police said. A man later identified Ronell Brown, 25, At 1:40 p.m. on Jan. 9, approached a 51-year-old woman walking near the intersection of Broadway and Beaver Street when grabbed her bag. The woman, though, held on and was knocked to the ground and was dragged about 10 feet. An onlooker, who was not identified, intervened and held the would-be-mugger until police arrived. The woman suffered a scrape on her hand during the scuffle, as did the 25-year-old. Brown resisted but was eventually subdued. He was charged with robbery.
Subway FracasA man and a woman were arrested on assault charges following a dispute between the two that escalated to violence on the evening of Jan. 4, police said. According to the police account, Taka M Winship of Staten Island, 42, were at the Fulton Street subway station southbound platform at Broadway and John Street when Winship hit Craig Butler of Brooklyn, 54, with a sharp object, scratching his nose. She then swung and struck Butler with a “CAUTION WET FLOOR” sign. He in turn hit the woman with dress mirror, cutting Winship, a wound that required four stitches. Police at the First Precinct had no information on the cause of the dispute or who started the fight.
Seat beatA man resorted to violence when a subway rider wouldn’t give up his seat, police said. At 9:15 p.m. on Jan. 8, a 26-year-old man boarded a northbound 3 train at the Wall Street station, sat down, and fell asleep. He was awakened at the Park Place station by a man, said to be about 20, who said, “Give me that seat!” and cursed at him, according to the account he gave police. The 26-year-old refused and the younger man burnished a knife, hit him and then slashed him on the forehead before punching and kicking him in the abdomen. The victim stepped into adjacent subway and didn’t get off the train until 72nd Street, where he requested help.
Drug ThugLate on New Year’s Day, an employee at the Duane Reade at 250 Broadway was monitoring surveillance cameras in the store when he noticed a man taking antacids and decongestants off the shelf and placing them in his jacket. The employee went downstairs and confronted the man, who then pulled a small knife and then took off, disappearing into the 2/3 train line subway tunnel heading southbound on the northbound tracks leading from the Park Place station.
50-50 Culpability in 7-ElevenAn employee and customer got into a dustup at a Fulton Street 7-Eleven early on Jan. 2, with both subsequently arrested on assault charges. Police said customer Martin Young, 48, of Brooklyn, was inside the 7-11 store when he confronted Noel Powell, 31, of Cheektown, N.Y. with a metal bar, and hit him in the head, body and hands, cutting Powell on his face and right hand. Powell then displayed a knife, swung and slashed Young’s face, left arm and body. It not clear what had precipitated the incident.