Homophobe slashes her
According to police, around 10:40 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 1, a 32-year-old man walked up to a group of friends — a woman and two men — who were standing at the corner of Delancey and Essex Sts. and starting shouting antigay slurs at one of the men.
The woman, 29, attempted to intervene by confronting the shouter and asking him to stop. When she approached him, the alleged perpetrator slashed her across the left side of her face with a sharp object, according to police.
An off-duty police officer was reportedly exiting the nearby subway station, and chased down the assailant.
The alleged attacker — identified as Takeam Brison, 32 —was arrested and is currently charged with felony assault as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon, a pocket knife. In addition, after he was in police custody, Brison reportedly also stated an antigay slur against the woman he slashed, according to police.
According to the New York Post, Brison is a Bowery homeless shelter resident with a record dating back to the 1990s. The slashing victim was removed to Bellevue Hospital, where she received five stitches and was released, according to the Post.
On Tues., Aug. 4, Councilmember Margaret Chin strongly condemned the attack and called for justice for the victim.
“As with any violence that targets our L.G.B.T. New Yorkers or their supporters, I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms,” Chin said. “The woman who confronted this man during his hate-filled rant must be commended for her courageous and noble action, and I am deeply thankful that she did not suffer life-threatening injuries. My thoughts are with her, and I wish her a speedy recovery.
“I thank the N.Y.P.D. for quickly arresting this suspect, and I hope and trust that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Damaged safe
At 7:15 p.m. on Fri., July 25, police received a call alerting them that an unknown suspect broke into Creative Edge Parties, a catering business and store, at 110 Barrow St., while it was closed. The man is wanted for felony burglary charges.
The unidentified man allegedly damaged a safe inside, but no property was stolen. According to police reports, it is unknown how the perpetrator entered the store, but there is video surveillance showing him leaving through the front door. The police investigation is still underway.
Sale goes to pot
Two men were arrested at 5:50 p.m. last Friday for allegedly making a drug deal “open to public view” across the street from 26 Washington Square North, according to police reports.
William Bogart, 45, and George Washington, 51, were arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for criminal sale of marijuana. One of them was observed exchanging a small object with the other for U.S. cash in a “manner visible to onlookers,” the police report said. When officers searched the two men, they recovered the alleged marijuana.
Missing from Marlton
A man, 28, reported at the Sixth Precinct on Sun., July 27, that his bag was stolen from the restaurant at the new Marlton Hotel, at 5 W. Eighth St.
When he arrived at the stationhouse at 9 p.m., the man described leaving the bag unattended in the corner of the restaurant while he was eating, only to find, after his meal, that it had been taken.
The backpack contained a black Lenovo laptop and a pair of prescription Ray-Ban sunglasses. The suspect — who is unknown at this time — is wanted on felony grand larceny charges. Police are currently investigating.
Meatpacking swipe
At midnight on Sat., July 26, a female victim, 21, reported her bag stolen while she was at the Provocateur bar and nightclub, at 18 Ninth Ave.
She told police she left her handbag on a bar counter for about five minutes, and “forgot about it.” As soon as she remembered, she went back to get it, but it was gone, according to police reports.
Inside the bag was an iPhone 5s, valued at $200; a New York driver’s license; a Bank of America credit card; a Chase debit card, and a set of keys. The victim was alerted that her debit card was later used at two different locations: a charge for $62 at Supreme Service, and a still pending charge at Shell Oil, at 117 Morningside Ave.
The victim did not have a tracking app on her phone. A lost-and-stolen property report was filed by police, who are investigating.
Coke, cash ’n’ computer
On Mon., July 28, a 36-year-old man told police that while he was walking on MacDougal St., he was approached by a man who offered him cocaine.
The man stated that he refused the offer, which was made at 5:50 a.m. in front of 333 Sixth Ave. The stranger — later identified as Melvin Johnson, 49 — then told the victim to sit down, making him “fear for his safety,” according to reports.
The victim offered $20 so that he could be left alone, but Johnson reportedly asked for $60. The victim agreed, and went with Johnson to the store, where he reportedly purchased a pack of cigarettes in order to make change. Before going inside, he left his laptop with a man identified as Johnson’s friend, who was “watching his computer,” according to the report.
When the man went back outside, Johnson’s accomplice and the laptop were gone, and Johnson then shoved the victim aside before attempting to leave. The victim was uninjured, and quickly alerted police.
Johnson was arrested and charged with petty larceny, a misdemeanor. His accomplice is currently still wanted for stealing the laptop, valued at $700. Police are investigating the case.
— Sergei Klebnikov
