A food vendor near City Hall was busted Monday for allegedly attacking a rival dealer with a crowbar during a street beef back in February, prosecutors said.
Felix Noel, 62, was charged with assault and possession of a weapon on April 3 after he allegedly attacked his food-selling foe a rival food cart vendor with a crowbar on Park Row near City Hall during the morning hours of Feb. 11.
“This victim was allegedly violently attacked in front of his own children for just trying to do his job,” said Manhattan District Attorney District Attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement.
According to the charges, Noel’s “work associate” approached the victim, Izzad Hassan Suleiman, 45, shortly after Suleiman arrived with his two children to set up his food cart., according to court documents. The associate began arguing with Sulaiman about his business and food cart territories.
Prosecutors said Noel, of Queens, allegedly arrived shortly after the argument, drove his truck on the sidewalk, and got out of the truck with a yellow crowbar.
A video of the incident, published by the New York Post, shows Noel allegedly chasing Suleiman around the plaza with the crowbar and striking Suleiman multiple times.
Suleiman sustained “significant bruising on his knee, back, and elbow” and a broken rib, according to authorities. NYPD officers responded to a 911 call and arrested Noel.
Suleiman was allegedly threatened in the past by Noel’s work associate, according to court documents and statements.
Noel could face a minimum of two years in state prison if convicted of the charges against him, law enforcement sources said.
