Cops catch hammer attacker
Police said that the suspect in two hammer assaults on women in the Union Square area was shot by police in Hell’s Kitchen after he wielded the tool menacingly at an officer on Wed., May 13.
According to police, the suspect’s first attack was on Mon., May 11, at around 7:36 p.m., when he approached a woman, 28, sitting on a park bench in Union Square, removed a hammer from inside of a bag and struck her in the head. EMS medics responded to the scene and transported the victim to Lenox Hill Hospital in stable condition.
Ten minutes after the first attack, the same suspect, police said, came up behind a woman, 33, walking westbound on W. 17th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves. and struck her in the back of the head, causing a scalp injury, before fleeing.
Two days later, at around 10 a.m., Officers Geraldo Casaigne and Lauren O’Rourke were responding to an unrelated assault at W. 37th St. and Eighth Ave. After completing that job, they were walking southbound along Eighth Ave. when they observed an individual fitting the description of the suspect wanted in connection with the two assaults.
According to police, the suspect had also attacked two more people earlier in the day, a 20-year-old man near Herald Square at 1:45 p.m., and a woman, 34, near Madison Square Park at 5:10 p.m., in both cases yelling profanities before hitting them with the hammer.
When they approached the suspect, he produced a hammer and swung it violently, with the claw side facing out, at O’Rourke, hitting her several times and causing her to step back — out into the intersection, where she fell to the ground.
Casaigne, an Iraq War veteran, then fired his gun four times, striking the suspect twice, once in the right arm and once in the torso.
O’Rourke sustained abrasions and lacerations to the back of her head and back and was transported by EMS to Bellevue Hospital. Casaigne was also transported by EMS to Bellevue and treated for tinnitus. Both officers were treated and released.
The suspect was taken into custody and transported by EMS to Bellevue Hospital in critical but stable condition. The hammer was recovered at the location.
On Thursday, police identified the man as David Baril, 30, of the Bronx. According to the New York Post, he has eight prior arrests, including one for assaulting a police officer trying to issue him a summons, plus others for possessing cocaine, a stun gun and a razor. According to police, Baril suffers from schizophrenia and paranoia.
Shady situation
The proprietor of the Sunglass Hut at 755 Broadway called police on Mon., May 4, expressing worry that a crook was scoping out the place. Officers arrived at about 4:30 p.m. and went to the rear of the store to view surveillance footage. As they checked for indications that someone had aims on the store, two thieves coincidentally made their way inside. The pair allegedly grabbed four pairs of luxury sunglasses worth $1,231, but the cops quickly caught on.
Tahlik Davis, 18, and Al Housseinou Sy, 19, were arrested and charged with felony grand larceny.
Bump to beating
A younger woman who bumped into a middle-aged woman in front of 63 Perry St. got violent on Thurs., May 7, according to police. Police said a 58-year-old woman was walking her dog there at about 7:20 p.m. when Rahwa Berhe, 23, collided with her. Berhe reportedly did not take kindly to admonishment for the collision as she subsequently pummeled the older woman’s head. The victim suffered swelling over her left eye and scratches on her left arm, according to a police report.
As Berhe was being arrested for misdemeanor assault, an acquaintance jumped in. Darnell Garling, 23, allegedly grabbed the arresting officer’s arms and tried to push him away. He then pinned his arms to his chest in order to avoid the handcuffs, police said. Garling was arrested for harassment, a violation.
Kooky party pooper
Police said a belligerent man ruined the party on Fri., May 8, at Negril bar, at 70 W. Third St. According to cops, Clint Walker, 26, began acting rudely at about 11:20 p.m. that night before getting too touchy-feely with female patrons. Bar staff then escorted Walker from the premises, at which point he allegedly said he would get a gun, come back and start shooting. On top of that, he then allegedly dialed 911 and told emergency services that there was a fire at the bar.
Firefighters responded to the scene and found no flames. Walker was later arrested and charged with making a false report of an incident, a felony.
Skater flips out
A panhandler made a 67-year-old woman driver pay once she refused to give him money in the early hours of Wed., May 6. He took a skateboard and smashed her rear car window in front of 18 E. 10th St., police said. A super from a nearby building intervened and held Hector Orozco, 24, until police arrived. Orozco was charged with felony criminal mischief.
Bedford burglar bagged
Something did not appear right to a man, 52, observing a suspicious character trying to leave an enclosed courtyard at 100 Bedford St. on Sun., May 3. The witness did not know the man, but did notice he was carrying some cumbersome bags. A chase ensued once the perpetrator jumped over the fence and fled on foot, dropping his bags as he went.
Police soon joined in and apprehended Kameele Bussey, 22. A search of his person and the bags revealed an Xbox video game console, accessories, a large quantity of antique coins and a box of hockey trading cards, as well as a knit New York Rangers cap, altogether worth $4,979.
Police said all those items did not belong to Bussey. However, two ziplock bags of reefer found in his front-right pants pocket were his, according to police. Bussey was charged with felony burglary.
Double-teamed
Two robbery suspects were caught after a police officer noticed one man grabbing onto another man’s pants and jacket in front of 110 Seventh Ave. South around 4 a.m. on Wed., April 29. The officer confronted the alleged grabber, Stephon Williams, 31.
His victim, 26, told police that he was standing earlier in front of a store when the other man, later identified as Kenneth Edwards, 22, allegedly cornered him and told him to empty his pockets. Edwards then cut the victim’s lip with a few punches to the face, police said.
Williams then ran up to the victim and started rummaging through his pants before emptying his wallet of $65 cash. He then sliced the victim’s jacket open with a razor blade and took a black Samsung phone. Edwards meanwhile fled the scene.
Police located Edwards later inside the subway station at W. Fourth St. and Sixth Ave.
Williams and Edwards were both arrested and charged with felony robbery.
Quoth the Raven: Busted
Two twentysomething women noticed on Sat., May 2, that their property was in the hands of two teenagers inside the Raven lounge, at 55 Gansevoort St. Security personnel subsequently confronted the two 17-year-olds. Once police arrived, they found that the two suspects were in possession of items beyond the wallet, cell phone and credit cards that the first two victims said were taken from them. A search of the perpetrators possessions revealed three iPhones, keys, cash, identification cards, Converse shoes and other items belonging to a total of four female patrons. The loot had a cumulative value of about $4,500, police said. The two minors were charged with felony grand larceny.
Holy church fight, Batman!
Words led to blows in the doorway of St. John’s Lutheran Church on Fri., May 8. Police said four men were arguing in front of the 81 Christopher St. church at about 4:30 p.m. when Lauren Calderon, 22, and Manuel Nunez, 18, allegedly attacked the other two men. One man, 29, suffered a lacerated lip, while a church employee, 30, got cut on his neck. The two assailants then reportedly broke a wooden bench belonging to the church, as well as other property. The alleged attackers were arrested and charged with felony criminal mischief. They both had open warrants for unspecified charges, according to a police report.
— Zach Williams and Lincoln Anderson
