Crime Watch

Two Violent Shoplifting Incidents

Police reported that at 9:50 p.m. on Sunday, July 25, a 29-year-old man entered the Felo Deli at 23 West 100th St. near Central Park West, put two 40-ounce beers in his bag and tried to leave the store without paying. A store employee stood in front of the suspect and asked him to stop and pay. The suspect in turn punched the employee in the face, and a fight ensued. A passerby waved down police officers on patrol, who tried to break up the fight, before the suspect actively and violently attempted to resist one of the officer’s attempts to cuff him. Daiquan S. Gaskins was arrested and charged with robbery.

According to police, at 2:40 p.m. on Friday, July 30, a 25-year-old man tried to take grocery items from the Westside Market at 2589 Broadway at West 98th St. As the suspect attempted to leave the location, he pushed a store security guard into a third person, causing the latter to fall and sustain a laceration on his head and right elbow. Ultimately, no groceries were taken, but Austin Dreher was arrested on a charge of robbery.

Teen Mugging Suspects Arrested

A 14-year-old male youth stated that at 2:36 p.m. on Sunday, August 1, he was standing on the sidewalk at West 103rd St. and Central Park West when he was approached by two 18-year-old men who engaged him in conversation. The 14-year-old started walking northbound when one of the others put his arms around him and said, “I have a knife right now against your back, and I need you to log out of your phone. My friend riding the bike has a gun.” Outside 6 West 105th St., the suspect then grabbed the victim’s phone and handed it to his accomplice. The suspects fled, but Shanel Lakins and Lloyd Frazier were arrested and charged with robbery. The property stolen included an iPhone 12 and a debit card, totaling $686.

Unhappy Customer Attacks Store Employee

Police claimed that at 5:27 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28, a 35-year-old man threw a newsstand bracket at a 26-year-old male store employee’s right hand, causing a minor laceration, during a dispute inside the smoke shop and deli at 714 Amsterdam Ave. at West 95th St. The suspect told the victim, “I am going to kill you!” while holding the bracket. The victim later told police that he and the suspect had been arguing about a transaction that had occurred two days before. The victim refused medical attention, and Guillermo Rodreguez was arrested and charged with assault.

Emotionally Disturbed Man Assaults Officer

A police officer reported that at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, July 29, he responded to a report of a violent, emotionally disturbed 48-year-old man at 206 West 92nd St. near Broadway. Residence staff said that the suspect had gone off his meds and refused to open his apartment door for a wellness check. The suspect later opened the door to leave his apartment but still refused to comply with EMS. The police officer tried to put the man in handcuffs for his own safety, but the latter intentionally head-butted the officer on the left side of his face. The officer sustained a contusion and bruising, and Christopher Geist was arrested on a charge of assault and taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.