Justice for Gina!
Police have made an arrest of a suspect who, on Sept. 27, made the mistake of allegedly trying to mug Gina Zuckerman, 91. The suspect knocked down the Village nonagenarian on Fifth Ave. around noon, grabbed the bag from the front of the elderly woman’s cart and dug her nails into the victim’s arm and hand. But the scrappy senior refused to release her satchel and the wannabe robber fled.
On Dec. 5, police reported that, pursuant to an investigation, Lillian Maduro, 49, of the Bronx, was arrested for second-degree robbery and assault.
In recognition of Zuckerman’s bravery and love of the Village, on Oct. 27, state Senator Brad Hoylman presented her with a proclamation declaring it Gina Zuckerman Appreciation Day.
Dies in risky ride
Police said that on Sat., Dec. 3, around 3:11 p.m., officers responded to a 911 call of a man underneath a Downtown F train at the W. Fourth St. subway station. He was unconscious and unresponsive with severe head trauma. E.M.S. pronounced him dead at the scene.
The victim was identified as Quintin Watkins, 31, of DeKalb Ave., in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. According to a police source, witnesses at the subway station described what happened.
“He threw his bookbag into a subway car,” the source said, “then stepped out of the car and got on the side of the train and tried to climb up the side. He tried to ride it — surf.”
Watkins was struck by a pillar inside the subway tunnel.
Smooth swiper
Police said that on Thurs., Nov. 24, just after midnight, a woman was walking home after a night out, when a stranger approached her in front of 88 Perry St. and engaged her in conversation. The man then pulled her bag out of her hand and fled on foot. The bag contained her Lenovo laptop, passport, iPhone and credit cards.
A week later, police arrested Anthony Thomas, 29, for felony grand larceny. Only the iPhone was recovered.
Snack pack
A group of youths helped themselves to free snacks at Gourmet 157, at 157 Christopher St., between Greenwich and Washington Sts., last Friday night, according to police. Employees said that on Dec. 2, at 11:05 p.m., three men and a woman entered the store. One of the men announced, “We’re going to rob you,” and they all then proceed to snatch Pop-Tarts and potato chips.
The fast-food filchers also reportedly injured the arms and faces of two store workers.
Dashawn Anderson, 18; Terragon Bryan, 18; Justin Cole, 18; and a 15-year-old girl were arrested for felony robbery. The stolen treats were not recovered.
Meatpack attack
A man told cops he was attacked at the corner of Ninth Ave. and W. 13th St. on Sun., Dec. 4, at 4:15 a.m. The victim said he was walking down the street when a stranger punched him in the right side of the jaw, splitting his lip open. The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital.
Raheem Jacobs, 19, was arrested for misdemeanor assault.
Bank card bandit
Police are looking for a man wanted in a series of four ATM robberies in October using stolen debit card information in Midtown, Chelsea and the East Village. On Tues., Oct. 4, at midnight, the suspect obtained the debit card information of a 37-year-old male victim to make multiple withdrawals totaling $908 from a CVS ATM at 253 First Ave., at E. 15th St.
The suspect is about age 25 to 35, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a light complexion, last seen wearing a blue coat, blue jeans, a designer shirt, black-rimmed eyeglasses and a dark-colored hat.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline, at 800-577-TIPS, or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Web site, www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting them to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577. All tips are confidential.
Emily Siegel
and Lincoln Anderson
