Fake cash failed
A wily teen thought she could trick a Union Square clothing store cashier into taking two fake $100 bills, but she had another thing coming.
A manager at the Burlington Coat Factory, at 40 E. 14th St., told police that around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 22, Shaquanna Rhem, 18, walked up to the register to purchase her items. Rhem allegedly handed the counterfeit bills over to the clerk, who clearly wasn’t fooled for a second. The clerk reportedly told Rhem that he needed to go and get change for the big bills, but instead he walked straight to management and informed them of the ruse.
The manager said she then approached Rhem, informed her that she’d been found out, reported the crime, and held her in the store’s security office until officers arrived to arrest her. Rhem was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Jealous Catch co-worker
Police arrested a supremely jealous boyfriend a week after he reportedly punched one of his co-workers in retaliation for “checking out” his girlfriend.
The 23-year-old victim told cops that, around 1 a.m. on Feb. 11, while he was hanging out on the sidewalk on W. 14th St. after working at the Catch restaurant and club, at 21 Ninth Ave., he was eyeing a female co-worker who turned out to be the girlfriend of Rayquan Drew, 25, another Catch employee. Drew apparently didn’t take too kindly to that once-over, and allegedly socked the other man in the nose.
The victim told cops that, after punching him, Drew fled the scene on foot. The alleged aggressor couldn’t be found during a canvass that night, but officers picked him up on Feb. 19, and charged him with assault.
Man assaults woman
This guy reportedly thought it was O.K. to rough up a woman, and now he’s going to pay the price.
The victim, 26, said Jesse Sosa, 28, attacked her while the two were walking on E. 13th St., between Broadway and University Place, around 7 p.m. on Feb. 22. She told police that Sosa — who apparently had some prior relationship with her — threw her to the ground, and then punched her in the face. The woman also said that, as a result of the alleged beating, she broke three nails and left with pain in her shoulder. Paramedics treated her at the scene, but police said she refused further medical attention.
Sosa was arrested shortly afterward, and was charged with assault. The victim also told cops that she hopes to obtain a restraining order against him.
From arguing to blows
A heated argument just outside Washington Square Park early on Fri., Feb. 22, left one man with a bloody nose, and another behind bars.
The victim, 32, told police that he and Joseph Doria, 30 got into a dispute around 1:30 a.m. on Waverly Place, near Washington Square West, when Doria suddenly punched him, knocking him to the ground. He further claimed that Doria followed up by kicking him while he was down, leaving him with cuts to his face and nose.
The incident was quickly reported by a bystander who had witnessed the fight, and officers apprehended Doria after arriving on the scene. Along with charging him with assault, the police slapped Doria with unlawful possession of marijuana, since they found drug paraphernalia in one of his pockets, which contained alleged pot residue.
Meatpacking cab rage
You know you have some social issues when you can’t even get into a taxi without screaming bloody murder. And for this guy, a reckless rant against two cabbies landed him in handcuffs.
Police said that around 2 a.m. on Sat., Feb. 23, Mathieu Dublanc, 29, hailed a cab near the corner of W. 14th St. and Ninth Ave., but was apparently in such a frenzied state that he refused to give the driver his address and soon had to be removed from the car. Officers then saw him stumble into traffic and jump into a second taxi, from which he also had to be removed. After that, Dublanc reportedly began screaming at the second driver, and walked up to him with fists clenched, yelling, “Do you have a problem with me?”
After that final outburst, officers at the scene apprehended Dublanc. He was charged with menacing.
— Sam Spokony
