City Hall Park attack
A deranged Brooklyn man wielding a hammer attacked a visitor from Barcelona who was sitting with his wife in City Hall Park the afternoon of Mon. July 30, police said.
The suspect, 43-year-old John Yoos, suddenly attacked the victim with the claw side of the hammer, hitting him several times above the left eye while screaming obscenities, according to reports. Witnesses held the suspect for police, who charged him with felony assault, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon. The victim with taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition but with head injuries.
Subway station robber
Three men and two women attacked a 40-year-old Queens man who was waiting for a northbound R train in the Rector Street station, at Trinity Place, around 6:40 a.m. Sun., July 29, police said. One of the suspects grabbed the victim’s phone and another suspect punched the victim when he did not let go of it, police said. The five robbers fled the station.
Took his skateboard
A teenager holding his skateboard and walking with a girlfriend on Chambers Street near Greenwich Street around 9 p.m. Tues, July 24 was attacked by three suspects who punched him in the head and made off with the skateboard, police said.
Armed robbers
Two men entered the Subway sandwich shop at 250 Broadway around 7 p.m. Sat., July 28; one of them ordered food, while the other went to the cash register and put a gun to the counterman’s face. police said. The robbers took $1,615 from the register, $200 from the counterman’s wallet and threatened to shoot him if he followed them.
A suspect pointed a gun at a woman who was smoking and playing games on her iPhone in front of 20 Vandam St. around 8:50 p.m. Mon., July 23, “Gimme your phone and you won’t get hurt,” he said. The suspect grabbed the phone and fled on a bicycle, but was tracked by the “Find my Phone” feature. The suspect, 44-year-old Manuel Tull, who was arrested a day later, was charged with robbery.
Vehicle theft, burglary
A man who parked the S.U.V. that he had rented from Hertz in front of 50 Murray St. around 7:50 p.m. Thurs., July 23 discovered a few hours later that it was stolen.
A man who parked his 2008 blue Suzuki motorcycle on the northwest corner of West and Warren Streets around 7 a.m. Wed., July 25 discovered several hours later that it had been stolen.
A woman who parked her car in front of 50 Vandam St. around 4 a.m. Fri., July 27 returned two hours later to find the driver’s side window smashed and her Gucci bag and Michael Kors wallet (with $155 in cash) stolen. She learned later that someone had tried but failed to use one of her credit cards in Brooklyn.
Car chase and crash
A traffic cop stopped a driver in front of 80 Maiden La. around 3:20 p.m. Sat., July 28 for a minor offense and discovered that the driver’s registration did not match the car. The driver sped off, crashed into three other cars and then fled on foot. The suspect, Sammy Rivera, 22, was apprehended on South Street between Catherine Slip and Robert. F. Wagner Pl. and charged with vehicle assault and reckless endangerment.
Eau de shoplift
A man who entered the Duane Reade store at 99 John St. around 10:25 a.m. Sat., July 28 managed to sneak out with 45 boxed bottles of cologne valued at $1,325 without paying for them, police said.
Sleeper robbed
Police arrested Martin Jefferson, 54 for stealing an iPhone and a wallet containing $45 cash from a visitor from Traverse City, Mich. who was sleeping on the steps of 20 Vesey St. the morning of Wed., July 25.
Big Machinery haul
The owner of a food service truck parked the vehicle in a Icon Parking at 243 Pearl St. and discovered the next morning that thieves had dismantled and stolen the generator and other cooking equipment with a total value of $1,500.
Umbrella attack
Police arrested 20-year-old Reynaldo Vega and charged him with assault for hitting a man in the neck several times with his umbrella around 8:50 p.m. Sat, July 28 during an argument at the corner of Broadway and Lispenard Streets.
–Albert Amateau
