HATE CRIMES CONTINUE TO RISE | The NYPD has seen an uptick in hate-related incidents in the weeks following the presidential election. This past week saw another handful of such incidents in the area. On Thurs., Dec. 1, a trio of men harassed a Muslim woman. At around 10pm, the 18-year-old victim boarded the 6 train at the 23rd St. station, when the men — who reportedly appeared intoxicated — began shouting at her, calling her a “terrorist” and invoking the name of President-elect Donald Trump. This went on for a number of stops, and the situation escalated when the men attempted to grab the hijab off of her head. The woman was able to get off at the 42nd St./Grand Central station, unharmed.
In another incident, pro-Trump graffiti was discovered in a phone booth on the northwest corner of W. 53rd St and Ninth Ave. The graffiti, which reads “Praise Trump” with a swastika next to it, was discovered on the afternoon of Sun., Dec. 4. A separate incident occurred around 6am on Mon., Dec. 5, at the 42nd St./Grand Central subway station, when a 45-year-old Muslim woman — a transit worker — was pushed down a set of stairs. Reportedly, the man who pushed her was taunting her on the 7 train with Islamophobic comments (again, using the accusation of “terrorist”), and when she got off at the station and tried to run from him, the man followed her, shoved her down the stairs, and fled. Police are currently asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the suspect, and have released a sketch (pictured on this page) to aid in the search.
Anyone with potential information about the suspects, and/or the incidents, is asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (1-800-577-8477), or text CRIMES, then enter TIP577, or visit nypdcrimestoppers.com.
LEAVING THE SCENE OF PERSONAL INJURY: Drag him | On Fri., Dec. 2, around 1:50am, a 29-year-old man hailed a cab outside the Gilded Lily (408 W. 15th St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.), and it stopped to pick him up — though as he opened the door, it began to pull away, dragging him approximately 25 feet down the street before he got free. The cab then left the scene, leaving the injured would-be fare behind. While the victim refused medical attention, a 31-year-old resident of the neighborhood witnessed the incident and was able to corroborate his story to the authorities, and video evidence is also available across from the location.
ASSAULT: Beef found at McDonald’s | While everyone knows fast food is bad for you, it’s rarely as viscerally dangerous as it was on the morning of Sat., Dec. 3. A 27-year-old Bronx man was walking down the street past a McDonald’s (330 Eighth Ave., btw. W. 26th & W.27th Sts.) at about 5am, when a stranger hanging around outside the restaurant struck him in the face a number of times, causing pain and swelling to the victim’s right eye. Authorities responded quickly, and the 20-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested — and also was found to be in possession of a small quantity of marijuana, surprising no one who has ever visited a McDonald’s at 5am.
ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF VEHICLE ID: Cracked car caught | Shortly after 3am on Sun., Dec. 4, at the northwest corner of Ninth Ave. and W. 23rd St., an officer observed a man driving a 2007 Dodge Charger with a cracked windshield. Upon investigating the situation, the officer discovered that the man, who was displaying Virginia license plates, had his driving privileges revoked in New York State. In addition, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on his dashboard had been removed. “I bought it like that,” the driver explained to the officer. The office, however, did not buy this excuse, and the 29-year-old Brooklyn man was arrested.
HARASSMENT: Taxi tussle | Usually when a cabbie gets stiffed it’s only their wallet that takes a hit — though a little after 8am on Fri., Dec. 2, one such situation escalated into an actual physical altercation. While nearing his destination at the northeast corner of W. 15th St. and Eighth Ave., the driver’s passenger refused to pay his bill. Instead of taking it lying down, however, the 30-year-old Brooklynite driver locked the car door and insisted the fare pay up. “Let me out the car,” he protested, though the driver did not relent —until he hit the cabbie in the face, and made his escape. Thankfully, the driver didn’t sustain any noticeable physical injuries, and declined medical attention.
CRIMINAL TRESSPASS: Track trespassers | On Sat., Dec. 3, at about 3:20am, an officer observed a quartet of unruly youths hanging out on the tracks in a gated railroad yard on W. 38th St. (btw. 10th & 11th Aves.). As there were signs clearly posted warning against trespassing, and the group didn’t have permission or authority to be there, all four were arrested: two women (19 and 20), and two men (20 and 22).
—SEAN EGAN
THE 10th PRECINCT: Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.). Commander: Capt. Paul Lanot. Main number: 212-741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212-741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-924-3377. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council meets on the last Wed. of the month, 7pm, at the 10th Precinct or other locations to be announced.
MIDTOWN SOUTH PRECINCT: Located at 357 W. 35th St. (btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.). Inspector: Russel J. Green. Call 212-239-9811. Community Affairs: 212-239-9846. Crime Prevention: 212-239-9846. Domestic Violence: 212-239-9863. Youth Officer: 212-239-9817. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-239-9836. Detective Squad: 212-239-9856. The Community Council meets on the third Thurs. of the month, 7pm, at the New Yorker Hotel (481 Eighth Ave., btw. W. 34th & W. 35th St.). Visit midtownsouthcc.org.
THE 13th PRECINCT: Located at 230 E. 21st St. (btw. Second & Third Aves.). Deputy Inspector: Brendan Timoney. Call 212-477-7411. Community Affairs: 212-477-7427. Crime Prevention: 212-477-7427. Domestic Violence: 212-477-3863. Youth Officer: 212-477-7411. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-477-4380. Detective Squad: 212-477-7444. The Community Council meets on the third Tues. of the month, 6:30pm, at the 13th Precinct.
CASH FOR GUNS | $100 cash will be given (no questions asked) for each handgun, assault weapon or sawed-off shotgun, up to a maximum payment of $300. Guns are accepted at any Police Precinct, PSA or Transit District.
