Crime Watch

BY MARIA ROCHA-BUSCHEL

Man arrested for snatching wallet Police arrested a 47-year-old man for grand larceny inside Chelsea Pizza 23 at 268 West 23rd Street July 30 at 2:15 a.m. The 19-year-old victim told police that she was buying pizza when one of the workers in the restaurant touched her chest and waist. She said that she had her wallet in her purse when she was inside the restaurant but it was missing when she left. She went back to the restaurant and asked the suspect if he took it but he ignored her and told her to come back in the morning. When police arrived at the scene, the suspect refused to talk and tried to leave but police searched him and found that the victim’s wallet was inside his shorts pocket.

Men arrested on drug chargesPolice arrested three men, ages 33, 39 and 46, for criminal possession of a controlled substance in front of Tao Lounge at 369 West 16th Street on the early morning of July 30. Police said that the 33-year-old suspect was seen approaching several pedestrians who were waiting in line to get into the club, yelling “coke” while passing by, police reported. The 39-year-old then approached the other suspect, who removed a small yellow item from his right sneaker and handed it to the other man. The 39-year-old and 46-year-old then walked east on West 16th Street towards Eighth Avenue and met with two other men. The suspect with the small yellow item, which police said was a bag with cocaine residue, made a hand-to-hand exchange with the two others. Police said that the first suspect was in possession of another yellow bag that was in his left sneaker that had cocaine residue in it. The 39-year-old suspect was in possession of a small clear bag with alleged cocaine that was in his wallet, as well as a small bag of alleged marijuana and loose pills.

Man slapped on Eighth avE.A 29-year-old man reported that a stranger slapped him while he was walking near the southeast corner of Eighth Avenue and West 24th Street July 29. He told police that he was walking north on Eighth Avenue towards West 24th Street when he passed the suspect and they exchanged glances. The suspect then slapped the victim on the back of the neck and ran south on Eighth Avenue. No arrests have been made.

Man harassed on West 26thA 62-year-old man reported that he was harassed in front of his building on West 26th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues on the afternoon of July 30. The victim told police that a 30-year-old man began talking to him and they engaged in conversation but when the victim didn’t want to continue the discussion, the suspect became upset and challenged the victim to a fight. The victim said that the man then placed his hands into his waistband and said, “I’ll f--king shoot you” and walked away. The man was last seen walking west on West 26th Street and the victim said that no firearm was displayed and no property was taken from him.

Men arrested for fight over cab

Police arrested two men, ages 37 and 24, for assault at the northeast corner of 10th Avenue and West 17th Street last Saturday at 4:50 a.m. after a dispute about a cab. The 37-year-old told police that he was getting into a cab when the other man punched him in the face and kicked him, causing a bloody nose and pain. The 24-year-old man said that the other man punched him as well, causing pain to his face and stomach. No further information was available about what started the altercation.