Midnight Mugging
A 26-year-old man from Poughkeepsie told police that at midnight on Friday, October 29, he was walking back to his hotel and talking on the phone when an unknown man struck him on the head with a black handgun in front of 505 West 37th St. near Tenth Ave. and said, “If you don’t give me your stuff you’ll never see your family again!” The victim handed over his belongings, and the suspect fled eastbound. The victim sustained a laceration to the right side of his forehead, a bruise to his right eye and a small cut to his nose. The stolen items included a Lenovo laptop, a black wallet, a gold chain, a Samsung S20 phone, car keys, glasses, $300 in cash and various credit and debit cards, totaling $4,300.
Nightmare at Dream
According to police, at 2:25 a.m. on Saturday, October 30, a 37-year-old man from Cambridge, MA was dancing inside the Dream Downtown hotel nightclub at 355 West 16th St. at Ninth Ave. when a 28-year-old man struck him with a glass bottle to his face, causing pain and swelling to the victim’s lip. The suspect continued to strike the victim with punches and kicks while he was on the floor with another suspect - a 25-year-old man - who also struck the victim with a closed fist and kicks, causing pain and swelling. Luke Dyson and Jordan Degooy were arrested and charged with assault. Police didn’t say what had sparked the fracas.
Youth Attacks Youth
An 18-year-old man told police that at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 20, he was on his way home when an unknown male 17-year-old attacked him at the northeast corner of Eighth Ave. and West 17th St., causing him to trip and injure his left elbow, leaving a scar. The victim said the suspect had also punched him in the head, causing pain.
ICE Phone Scam
A 23-year-old Asian-American man living on West 42nd St. reported that at noon on Friday, October 29, he got a phone call from a person claiming to be an ICE agent, calling from phone number 210-979-4500. The victim told police the caller gave him two options: either be taken into custody or remit $8,950 in the form of gift cards. The victim chose the latter option and bought ten Target gift cards totaling $5,000. He scratched off the numbers on the backs of the cards and sent pictures of all ten cards to the phone number 626-469-7539. Later he learned that the phone call had been a scam.
Restaurant Employees Robbed
A 36-year-old woman working at Estiatorio Milos restaurant at 500 West 33rd St. at Tenth Ave. reported that at 4:55 p.m. on Saturday, October 30, an unknown man entered a stairwell as well as two additional doorways intended for employee access only. Apparently, all the doors were unlocked. The suspect then removed property without permission or authority before fleeing the location. One of the three victims - all restaurant employees - had credit cards stolen, and usage turned up on her Chase card in the amount of $205.76. The other items stolen included a wallet with pearls, a pair of Apple Air Pods, an Yves St. Laurent wallet, a Chanel card holder and a Coach wallet, totaling $2,360.