On Black Friday, protesters angry over the lack of an indictment in the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, marched through Macy’s during the shopping frenzy, then up to Times Square chanting, “Hands Up, Don’t Shop!” Above, a woman blocked traffic in Times Square. Photo by Jefferson Siegel
Attempted-rape case
Juan Scott pleaded not guilty in court on Nov. 25 to charges of attempted rape, sexual abuse and burglary in connection with three separate East Village incidents involving three different female victims.
The prosecution recommended a 20-year sentence. The next court date is set for Jan. 27.
Scott, 26, a cousin of actress Rosario Dawson, was arrested on Oct. 17 for an attempted rape of a 20-year-old N.Y.U. student in a Stuyvesant Town elevator three days earlier. According to news reports, the woman is a junior at the school. She had just gotten out of a cab when Scott reportedly followed her into the building. The incident was caught on video camera, including the attacker shimmying down a tree onto E. 14th St.
The victim’s parents flew in from Riverside, California, to attend the court hearing.
The parents, who asked that their names not be printed to protect their daughter’s identity, said she is determined to keep living at Stuy Town and finish up at N.Y.U.
“She’s a strong woman. She’s not going to let this trash get the best of her,” her father said angrily. “Women should never be subjected to people like this.”
After his arrest, Scott was connected to two earlier crimes, an assault of an ex-girlfriend on E. 13th St. in September and another incident in June where he allegedly followed a woman into her E. 11th St. building.
Scott was arrested at his mother’s home on Long Island. He had been living for the summer in 544 E. 13th St. — a former squat — and was working as a restaurant deliveryman. Rosario Dawson grew up in the building, and her mother, Isabel Celeste, and uncle, Juan Scott’s father, Nicky Scott, still live there.
Knock, knock?
A man received plenty of attention after incessantly banging on the front door of 81 Bedford St. a bit before 7 a.m. on Sun., Nov. 30. According to a witness, the perpetrator kicked the door repeatedly, causing more than $250 in damage to the property. Responding police searched the area and found Andrew Detres, 28, charging him with criminal mischief.
Bar thief gets bagged
Alert staff stopped a man with a pricey Rebecca Minkoff designer handbag as he tried to leave Up and Down bar, at 244 W. 14th St. The bag and its contents had been left unattended in the place round 3 a.m. on Thurs., Nov. 27, according to a witness.
Police arrived and arrested Alessandro Manca, 24, charging him with grand larceny. The bag, plus a Tory Burch designer wallet and an iPhone 4S — valued at $745 altogether — were returned to the owner, a 21-year-old woman.
Couldn’t hold it
Police arrested a man for urinating in front of 321 Sixth Ave. around 4:10 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 28. The incident occurred near a children’s playground, police noted. Serge Theronier, 28, was charged with public lewdness.
Claimed he was cop
A manager at the Standard Hotel told two men who were yelling and causing havoc in front of the place, at 848 Washington St., around midnight on Sat., Nov. 29, to move along, or else he would call the cops.
“I am a cop and work at the 47th Precinct,” retorted one of them, Partiot Kuka, 27, according to a police report.
Asked to provide ID, Kuka stated he should be taken at his word. The manager called police. When an officer arrived, Kuka reiterated his claim that he was an officer at the 47th Precinct. He was reportedly “flailing” his arms as an officer arrested him for criminal impersonation.
Meanwhile, Ilir Kuka, 23, broke a window inside a police vehicle by kicking it, and was charged with criminal mischief. The report did not state whether the men were related.
— Zach Williams and Lincoln Anderson
