Mass arrest
A man, 68, witnessed another man steal a valuable religious book from Our Lady of Pompeii Church at 25 Carmine St. early Sun., Feb. 21, police said.
According to a report, around 8 a.m., a man allegedly walked into the church and swiped the Book of Gospels — which the priest reads from at Mass and other services — from the altar and left the South Village church.
The witness followed him out and asked him to return the holy tome, but he refused. The witness called police and upon a canvass of the area, they found the suspect in front of 378 Sixth Ave.
Charlie Lopes, 32, was arrested for felony grand larceny.
End of the dream
An officer observed a man engage in a hand-to-hand drug exchange in front of 136 W. Third St. on Sun., Feb. 21, around 2:30 a.m., according to a report. Upon further investigation, the man was found to be in possession of a razor “with the intent to use it unlawfully.”
The man also had two small bags of alleged cocaine, one small bag of alleged marijuana and one deck of alleged heroin stamped with the label “Dream Chaser.” Police said he has been arrested many times for drug possession.
Derrick Gary, 47, was busted for felony criminal possession of a weapon.
Caffeine fix
A caffeine craver hoped to boost his mood for free at the Rite Aid on 501 Sixth Ave. last Friday, police said. The man walked into the store on Feb. 19 around 5 p.m. and removed Nescafé from the shelf and placed it in a plastic bag, then attempted to exit. Upon a search, police said they found a gravity knife on him, plus a hypodermic needle filled with unknown narcotics. The man had an active warrant and prior convictions.
Steven Brand, 29, was arrested for felony criminal possession of a weapon.
Wrong-way tagger
At 3:30 a.m. Fri., Feb. 19, a police officer reportedly observed a man riding his bike the wrong way down a one-way street. The cop stopped him at Seventh Ave. South and W. 10th St., and found the cyclist in possession of a gravity knife and spray can. The man has prior convictions for graffiti, police said.
Jonathan Raftery, 25, was arrested for felony criminal weapon possession.
Hack attacked
A taxi driver said a man kicked his cab and broke the front passenger door handle while the hack was letting out a passenger on Thurs., Feb. 18, at 4:40 p.m. at Sixth Ave. and W. Fourth St. The man also opened the driver-side door and kicked the cabbie in the leg, causing substantial pain, on top of causing more than $250 worth of damage to the vehicle.
Police arrested Michael Nazario, 31, for felony criminal mischief.
Swiss Army threat
An employee at the North Village Deli at 74 Eighth Ave. had a scary encounter with an unhappy customer on Mon., Feb. 8, at 4 p.m. After arguing with the worker, the man grabbed a multi-tool utility knife from his right pocket, causing the other man to fear for his safety.
Police arrested David Lozano, 25, on Feb. 15 for misdemeanor menacing.
E.V. bank robber
Police said that on Fri., Feb. 19, about 4:15 p.m., a man entered the Bank of America at 72 Second Ave., at E. Fourth St., and passed a note to a teller, demanding cash. But the individual fled without any cash.
The suspect was described as around 5 feet 8 inches tall, 200 pounds, age 35 to 45, and wearing a padded navy coat, green hat, black hood, black pants and black footwear.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline, at 800-577-TIPS. 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.
Jumps in river
On Fri., Feb. 19, a man was seen jumping into the water near Pier 51, at Jane St. in the Hudson River Park. A police Harbor Unit boat pulled him out. He appeared emotionally disturbed and was taken to Bellevue Hospital, police said.
Emily Siegel
and Lincoln Anderson
