Grenade scare
An old hand grenade with the pin still in place was unearthed at a Bowery construction site Monday afternoon, causing police to evacuate the whole block and call in the Bomb Squad and Emergency Service Unit cops.
The explosive was found by a hard hat at 221 Bowery about 1 p.m., and was ultimately determined to be inert.
Construction foreman Yzaul Abreu, 27, told the New York Post that the deadly device was “full of mold” and “wrapped up in a napkin” in a bucket when he found it.
“It had the pin in it,” Abreau said through an interpreter.
Abreau told the Post he was fearful because of gas lines in the basement, and carried the grenade to the first floor, where the Bomb Squad retrieved it.
“He was terrified, scared, almost tearing,” said Estarlin Torres, 19, a construction assistant.
The block was evacuated for about 40 minutes.
Coat collar
At around 4 a.m. on Sun., March 20, a man approached police officers and said three men stole his friend’s fur jacket. The officers canvassed the area and found three male suspects fleeing on foot, one of whom, the officers observed, was in possession of a jacket.
The police stopped the trio in front of 122 Greenwich Ave. and two of them were compliant. But the third man was allegedly combative, argumentative and actively resisted arrest by kicking, pushing and punching the officers. One officer sustained a sprained ankle. Upon arrest, one man was found to be in possession of a partially burnt marijuana cigarette.
Two of the men, Tambhia Tucker, 22, and Deshawn Ocampo, 22, were arrested for felony robbery. Jonathan Banyan, 29, was arrested for felony robbery and assault.
Screwy encounter
A man walking on the street at 12:40 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day had an unpleasant encounter.
Police said that on Thurs., March 17, at 12:40 a.m., a man strolling past 204 W. Fourth St. was approached by another man who brandished a 7-inch screwdriver at him and said, “I’m going to f—ing kill you.”
Demarcus Thompson, 44, was arrested for misdemeanor menacing.
Hammer time
Also on Thurs., March 17, at 2:44 a.m., police stopped a man in front of 350 W. 14th St. who was found to be in possession of a hammer, which he stated he used for protection, according to a report. Upon a search, the man was found to be in possession of burglar tools and a pipe containing alleged marijuana. The defendant has two active warrants, police said.
James Keyes, 45, was arrested for felony criminal possession of a weapon.
Bleecker bash
A stranger punched a man in the face while he was walking down the street on Fri., March 18, at 1:42 a.m., police said. Three men were walking home when a man approached them in front of 182 Bleecker St., according to a report. Two of the men witnessed the stranger allegedly punch their friend in the face, causing him to have a bloody nose and bruises. The stranger allegedly intended to cause physical injury to the man. Police did not state a motive for the assault.
Roberto D. Rodriguez, 30, was arrested for misdemeanor assault.
Un-Souk-cessful try
Two men racked up a big bill at Le Souk restaurant at 510 LaGuardia Place last week, then reportedly hoped to pull a fast one. On Thurs., March 17, at 10 p.m., the pair used a fraudulent credit card to try to pay for their $5,000 tab, police said. While the pair were being arrested, one man allegedly resisted an officer’s efforts to handcuff him by flailing his arms and thrashing his body.
Jesus Baily, 28, and Jaime Davis, 31, were arrested for felony criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Emily Siegel
and Lincoln Anderson
