Crime Watch

Violent Shoplifting Suspect Apprehended

An employee inside Gristedes at 1644 York Ave. at East 87th St. said that a suspect entered the store at 10:51 a.m. on Wednesday, July 28, concealed merchandise in a shopping bag and tried to leave the location without paying. The employee confronted the suspect outside the store, when the suspect punched and pushed the employee, saying he had a gun and would kill him. The suspect then dropped the merchandise and fled into the middle of York Ave. before turning around and again charging the employee, punching and pushing. The unnamed suspect was arrested at 11:43 a.m. and charged with robbery. The employee complained of pains to his shoulder but refused medical attention.

Two Car Theft Suspects Nabbed After Chase on FDR Drive

Police reported that at 9:25 p.m. on Sunday, August 1, an attendant was working at a garage at 200 East 94th St. at Third Ave. when three suspects entered the location. Two of the suspects headed for a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was unlocked with keys inside the vehicle. One of the suspects wrapped his arms around the attendant and slammed him to the ground, causing a laceration to the victim’s left elbow. The three suspects then took off in the Jeep, heading eastbound to the FDR Drive. An officer patrolling the Drive spotted the Cherokee and tried to conduct a car stop. The driver refused to pull over and kept going until the vehicle crashed at Exit 2. Two of the suspects were arrested and charged with grand larceny auto.

Taser-Wielding Suspect Arrested in Hospital

According to police, at 2:50 p.m. on Friday, August 6, a 26-year-old woman went into Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at 1275 York Ave. at East 68th St. asking for directions. A 43-year-old male security officer at the facility recognized the woman from a hospital security alert, and he and another guard followed the suspect, when she pulled a taser from her purse and tried to tase one of the guards. The other guard then removed the taser from the suspect’s back pocket, and Malachi Thomas was arrested on a charge of menacing.

Police Seek Motorist in Road Rage Incident

A 77-year-old man told police that at 10:05 a.m. on Tuesday, August 3, a 50-year-old male motorist was traveling westbound on East 79th St. in a black 2019 BMW X5 and almost sideswiped the 77-year-old as he was crossing in the middle of 79th between First Ave. and York Ave. on foot. The 77-year-old threw a cup of coffee at the driver, who then made a U-turn, stopped near 404 East 79th St., got out of his vehicle and punched the 77-year-old in the face with a closed fist, causing redness and bruising. The suspect then took off, heading eastbound in his vehicle, and the victim was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital for treatment.

Bike Shop Burglarized

A 39-year-old male employee at Spokesman Cycles East Side located at 313 East 60th St. near Second Ave. reported that at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 30, he locked up the business for the night. When he returned at 9:35 the next morning he discovered that the cash register was open and a basement door had been pushed open from the outside. $500 was missing from the cash register, removed overnight by unknown suspects.