Village senior bashings
Aug. 10 was a tough day for senior citizens in the West Village, as two residents in their 60s were reportedly attacked by younger perpetrators in separate incidents.
First, a 65-year-old man said he was strolling through Washington Square Park around 8:45 a.m. when he was blindsided by a stranger — later identified as Robert Burton, 34. The victim told police that, although he never said a word to the alleged attacker, Burton kicked him in the ribs and then punched him in the face, leaving him lying on the ground with cuts and bruises.
Fortunately for the victim, a police officer outside the park eventually saw the incident and called for paramedics, who treated the elderly man at the scene. And while Burton tried to flee on foot toward Sixth Ave. when he saw the officer approaching, the officer was able to chase down and arrest him, charging Burton with assault.
Later that day, around 5:45 p.m., witnesses told police they saw an argument break out between a 69-year-old man and Bernard Roxbury, 45, near the corner of Christopher and Bleecker Sts. The witnesses said, Roxbury then punched the senior square in the face, knocking him down.
The bystanders called police, and Roxbury was arrested at the scene minutes later, while the victim was treated for minor injuries to his head. Roxbury was charged with assault.
Attempted Jones St. rape
Police arrested a man who allegedly assaulted and attempted to rape a 23-year-old woman behind a West Village building early on Sun., Aug. 11.
Cory Reid, 33, was arrested immediately after the incident, which police said took place around 8:45 a.m., behind 27 Jones St., between Bleecker and W. Fourth Sts.
Reid is believed to have forcibly inserted his fingers into the woman’s vagina, as well as forcibly performing oral sex on her, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Police said they initially charged Reid with attempted rape, assault and sexual misconduct, but the D.A.’s office is currently charging him with committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree, and sexual abuse in the first degree.
Police sources declined to provide any further information about the alleged victim at this early stage, and did not say whether or not she lives in the Jones St. building.
Tackles her for phone
This perp tried to pull off a sidewalk phone-snatching in broad daylight — but instead of grabbing the goods, he ended up in cuffs.
The victim, a woman, 44, told police the incident began as she was exiting up the stairs of the West Fourth St. subway station at the corner of Waverly Place and Sixth Ave., around noon Aug. 12. She said that once she reached street level, an unknown man — later identified as Jimmy Bostick, 23 — came from behind and tackled her to the ground, while trying to rip her cell phone out of her hand.
The woman screamed for help, which apparently caused Bostick to give up and flee the scene without ever actually taking the phone, police said. But as Bostick started running westbound on Waverly Place, a male bystander stepped in and took him down, and detained the suspect until police arrived to arrest him.
Bostick was charged with attempted robbery.
Found on fare beater
A turnstile jumper got more than he bargained for on the afternoon of Aug. 10, when a police officer caught him in the act and found some incriminating material in his pockets.
Vernon Driskell, 56, was stopped and searched by officers after jumping the turnstile at the F train station at the corner of W. 14th St. and Sixth Ave., around 1 p.m., police said. Driskell was reportedly carrying an illegal knife and two glass pipes coated with alleged crack cocaine residue — felony offenses that far outweighed his initial crime.
Officers arrested Driskell at the scene and charged him with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Employee goes Right Guard
A shoplifter wanted to smell fresh, but his methods were certainly foul.
An employee at the CVS convenience store at 307 Sixth Ave. told police he saw Quashawa Taylor, 18, enter the store around 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9, pull a deodorant stick off a shelf, put it in his shoulder bag, and then walk right back out the door without paying, the employee said.
The employee, 21, explained to police that he then followed Taylor outside and confronted him, demanding the alleged thief give back the stolen deodorant. Taylor reportedly responded, “I’m gonna mace you,” and reached threateningly into his bag, which caused the employee to fear for his safety and let him go — after which he called police.
Officers quickly responded, and tracked down and arrested Taylor minutes later, at which time they said they recovered both the stolen deodorant and a can of pepper spray that the perpetrator had hidden in his sweatshirt. Taylor was charged with robbery.
Sam Spokony
