Starbucks armed robbery
Police are searching for a man who robbed a Starbucks near Union Square at gunpoint on Thurs., Jan. 16.
The suspect, pictured above, reportedly walked into the coffeeshop, near the corner of E. 15th St. and Third Ave., around 9:30pm, and immediately displayed the firearm, police said. He then demanded money from two employees — a woman, 21, and a man, 22 — after which he forced them to lie down on the floor and tied up their hands with zip ties.
The unknown perpetrator then snatched around $3,000 in cash from the register and fled the scene, police said. The victimized employees were not injured.
Chased, tackled and robbed
A 21-year-old Staten Island man suffered bruises and swelling, following an attack that happened shortly after 4am on Sun., Jan. 19. That’s when he left the “Good Life Saturdays” dance event, held weekly at the High Line Ballroom (431 W. 16th St., btw. 9th & 10th Aves.). While walking east on 18th St., the victim passed a group of men — who began to walk in the same direction. At the mid-block point between 7th and 8th Aves., one of the men began to follow him in a deliberate manner — causing the victim to run. A short distance away, he was tackled by his follower, who was assisted by another man from the group. After removing a wallet and a cellphone from the victim’s pocket, the two perps (both estimated to be in their mid-20s) fled on 18th St., westbound, towards their original location. The wallet contained $81 in cash, as well as several credit cards along with the victim’s passport card and New York State driver’s license.
Urine trouble now!
Police arrested Daniel Montes, 32, on Jan. 19 after he was caught carrying an illegal knife in the Meatpacking District.
Officers initially stopped Montes around 3am because they had spotted him urinating on a sidewalk near the corner of W. 14th St. and 10th Ave. Once they began searching him, Montes reportedly admitted to having the gravity knife stashed in his jacket pocket, and cops soon found that he was also carrying a small bag of alleged marijuana.
In addition to the violation for public urination, Montes was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana.
—Sam Spokony & Scott Stiffler
