Attacked cab driver
A cab driver hailed by two suspects at Lafayette and Grand Sts. at 12:35 a.m. Sun., Sept. 20, was pepper-sprayed and robbed of his money and cell-phone earpiece, police said. The driver, however, recovered enough to see his two assailants get into another cab, and followed them to 14th St. at Eighth Ave. where they fled down the subway entrance. The victim flagged down a passing police car, and the suspects, Marlon Cole, 18, of Brooklyn, and Justin John, 16, of Queens, were arrested on the subway platform. They were held pending an appearance on charges of first- and second-degree robbery and criminal possession of a weapon — the can of pepper spray — according to a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney.
Linked to Soho sex attack
Vincent Heyward, 20, charged with four rapes in Northern Manhattan from Aug. 1 to Sept. 7, was linked last week to a sexual attack on a woman, 24, as she was entering her Broome St. apartment on Aug. 23, according to police reports.
The Soho woman resisted, told the suspect she was H.I.V. positive and punched him in the nose, according to a Daily News item.
The four Northern Manhattan incidents, involving knifepoint rape-sodomies and robberies, include one at W. 148th St. on Aug. 1, another at Hamilton Terrace on Aug. 10, a third on Aug. 18 on Riverside Drive, and yet another on Sept. 7 on St. Nicholas Ave.
Samples of Heyward’s DNA were taken when he was arrested on Sept. 15 and matched the male DNA found on the victims, according to court papers. During Heyward’s arraignment on Sept. 21 he hit a court officer and an E.M.S. technician, according to a subsequent complaint.
BB sniper on Avenue D
Police at the Ninth Precinct converged on Avenue D and E. Third St. on Thursday and Friday last week in response to BB gun attacks that struck two victims. The shooting apparently came from a window at 20 Avenue D in the Lillian Wald Houses, witnesses said. One man, identified in a Daily News item as Edwin Rivera, 47, said he was hit twice on Thurs., Sept. 24, one pellet hitting him in the left arm and drawing blood. A construction worker, identified as Edward Gilyard, 49, was shot on Fri., Sept. 25, in the right temple. Doctors found two pellets that penetrated the scalp and lodged next to Gilyard’s scalp. The incident was still being investigated on Tues., Sept. 29, but there were no arrests at that time, police said.
Bump turns deadly
Christopher Gutierrez, 20, who lived with his family in the Jacob Riis Houses on Avenue D until a few months ago, was stabbed to death in front of the James A. Farley General Post Office at 33rd St. and Eighth Ave. around 6 p.m. Sun., Sept. 27, after he bumped into a stranger.
A tourist in front of the post office on Sunday took a photo of a man believed to be the killer. The photo shows a man with part of his face turned away from the camera.
On Tuesday, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Sirmone McCaulla, 28, was identified as the killer. A police officer who had contact with McCaulla in the past identified him, and police were still working to apprehend him. McCaulla served in the military and has a criminal record, including an arrest for armed robbery, Kelly said.
“The victim takes his coat off, looking like they’re going to have a fistfight. Indeed, the victim assumes a stance like a fighter,” Kelly explained at a Tuesday news conference. “The perpetrator does something of a similar nature, but has something down by his side, which turned out to be a knife.”
Gutierrez was stabbed four times and was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital Center.
Gutierrez had moved in the summer from his mother’s apartment in the Riis Houses to the Covenant House youth shelter, on W. 41st St., but more recently found a place near Penn Station and claimed to have a job in a supermarket, according to a New York Times article.
His funeral will be Fri., Oct. 2, at Ortiz Funeral Home, 22 First Ave., and viewings are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or to text to TIP577 to CRIMES, or by e-mail at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.
Jones St. burglary
A Jones St. resident, 44, left home on Saturday morning Sept. 12 and returned on Sunday night to find that someone had entered his apartment and made off with his computer and external hard drive, as well as $100 in cash and a pair of sneakers, police said.
Hudson Square break-in
A burglar who forced open the front door of an apartment on Charlton St. near Varick St. sometime after 7 p.m. when the residents were out made off with tools valued at more than $800, including a drill, a staple gun and assorted screws, police said.
Landlord assault
John Carter, 50, a resident of 267 E. 10th St., was charged with hitting a woman tenant of 111 South St. on the head with a wooden club at around 11:15 p.m. Fri., Sept. 25. Carter was identified as the owner of the South St. building in a New York Post item. Carter and the victim, 41, were arguing prior to the assault, but police did not say what the subject was. He was released on his own recognizance pending a court appearance on a second-degree assault charge, according to the Manhattan D.A.’s Office.
Salon robber gets nailed
Alston McDonald, 44, was arrested in connection with two robberies of a beauty salon, one on Sept. 15 and again on Sept. 23, police said. The suspect entered the salon, at 527 E. 14th St., around 8 p.m. on Tues., Sept. 15, went to the cash register, took $200 and fled, according to the complaint filed by the Manhattan D.A. On Wed., Sept. 23, McDonald returned and told an employee, “Give me the money, bitch — open the register,” police said. She opened the register but then ran out to flag down police. McDonald grabbed $38, and was met outside by police. During the arrest, the suspect said that he was a cop on police business, showed a badge and struggled against being handcuffed, the complaint says. McDonald, of 502 E. 14th St., was being held pending a court appearance on charges of third-degree robbery and impersonating a police officer.
Gift-shop rampage
Police arrested Rondell Smith, 21, at 1:10 a.m. Sat., Sept. 26, for punching an employee of the Village Gift Shop, 116 Christopher St., and trashing the place after an argument over the price of a phone card, police said. Smith punched the employee in the face, began breaking items and tearing down shelves and refused to leave, according to the complaint filed by the D.A. Smith, of 107 E. 116th St., was being held in lieu of $7,000 bail pending a court appearance on third-degree burglary, criminal mischief and assault charges.
Random punch
A Queens man, 47, told police that a stranger punched him in the face for no apparent reason shortly before 10 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 24, on the northwest corner of MacDougal and Bleecker Sts.
Astor bag grab
A purse snatcher came up behind a victim, 22, at the corner of Astor Place and Broadway at 9:10 p.m. Fri., Sept. 25, grabbed her bag, containing her iPhone, credit cards and personal items, and fled, police said.
Albert Amateau
