E.V. rape arrest
An East Village man was arrested on Sat., Sept. 17 for raping a woman in broad daylight as she was walking near Ave. B and E. Sixth St.
Police apprehended Neal Essex, 51, of 538 E. Sixth St., at the scene and charged him with raping and strangling the woman. Essex grabbed the victim around 8:19 a.m., threw her to the ground, repeatedly punched her in the face, pulled down her pants and raped her. The suspect then choked the victim until she lost consciousness, according to the complaint filed with the Manhattan District Attorney.
Noontime armed robber
Police are looking for a suspect who robbed two women at gunpoint inside 34 E. Seventh St. around 12:30 p.m. Tues., Sept. 6. The gunman was described as black, about 6’ tall, thin build, between 30 and 45 years old, dark complexion with his hair in braids and gold lower teeth embossed with letters. He came up behind the victims, 21 and 24 years old, as they entered the building and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t hand over their money. He took an undetermined sum of cash and an iPhone from the two women and fled in an unknown direction. Anyone with information on the identity of the robber may phone Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www. Crimestoppers.com
Seek Village rapist
Police are still seeking a suspect who beat and raped a woman, 23, after forcing his way into her third floor apartment on W. 13th St. around 2 a.m. Thurs., Sept. 8. The suspect, who was caught on a surveillance tape, was described as Hispanic, about 35 years old, 5’8”and 180 lbs. He was wearing a gray suit, white shirt with an open collar and no tie. Anyone with information may phone NYPD Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppes.com or by texting 274637 (crimes) and entering TIP577.
Fatal FDR accident
An East Village resident was struck and killed while crossing FDR Dr. at E. Sixth St. around 10:48 p.m. Tues., Sept. 13, police said. Makever Brown, 22, of 90 Ave. D in the Jacob Riis Houses, was running across the northbound lane of the highway when he was struck by a livery cab, police said. The driver remained at the scene and police are investigating the incident.
Died at St. Brigid’s
A homeless woman, believed to be about 50 years old, was found dead around 8:51 a.m. Sat., Sept. 10 in front of St. Brigid’s Church. Police said there was no sign of trauma and the Medical Examiner’s office is investigating the cause of death.
Cold Meat Market case
Police arrested Zaleka Davis, 37, on Wed., Sept. 14 and charged her with the June 15 robbery of a woman victim on Ninth Ave. at W. 13th St. in the Gansevoort Market District. Davis, who had a male accomplice not apprehended, pushed the woman to the ground and made off with her bag. The victim sustained neck and ankle injuries, police said.
Phony money
An employee of Ciao, the bar at 185 Bleecker St., examined a $20 bill that a patron had given her around 1 a.m. Tues., Sept. 13, discovered it was counterfeit and followed the man out. She phoned 911 and kept an eye on the suspect until police came and arrested Miguel Castro, 25. Police said they found several other counterfeit 20s in Castro’s possession.
Bar Burglary
Police arrested Louis Mercado, 22, on Sat., Sept. 17 and charged him with the Wed., Sept. 7 burglary of Bar 13, 35 E. 13th St. at University Pl. Mercado and an accomplice kicked in the front door and made off with two bank boxes containing a total of $2,500 and a laptop computer, police said. A surveillance camera captured the burglary. The accomplice has not been apprehended.
Snatched wallet
A thief snatched the wallet of a man who was sitting at a table outside Dos Caminos restaurant, 675 Hudson St. near Christopher St. around 5:30 p.m. Mon., Sept 19, police said. The victim chased the suspect, knocked the wallet out of his hand, and identified him when police arrived to arrest Rayvon Cable, 16, on a larceny charge.
Police cadet fatal
Sherman Abrams, 28, who entered the NYPD Police Academy in July, collapsed after completing a run with his academy class in East River Park between 14th and Houston Sts. on Mon., Sept 12. He suffered chest pains and lost consciousness around 5 p.m. Abrams was taken to Beth Israel Hospital, where he was declared dead. He had served as a corrections officer for four years before entering the Police Academy.
Stonewall bash guilty plea
Matthew Francis, 22, and Christopher Orlando, 18, pleaded guilty on Thurs., Sept. 8 to the 2010 hate crime assault of a gay patron of the Stonewall Inn. As part of the plea bargain, Francis is expected to receive a two-year jail term when he is sentenced on Tues., Sept. 27. Orlando is expected to receive a six-month jail term at his sentencing on Jan. 3, 2012. The defendants, both of Staten Island, attacked the victim on Oct. 3, 2010 in the bathroom of the renowned bar on Christopher St., where the 1969 riot sparked the gay rights movement.
Soho grab bag
A woman was sitting at a café table in front of Aurora bar, 510 Broome St. at W. Broadway around 9:10 p.m. Fri., Sept. 16, when a stranger grabbed her bag from the bench beside her and fled. She lost two wallets and credit cards which were in the bag.
Secret vice?
Two men entered the Victoria’s Secret shop at 350 Broadway between Leonard and Franklin Sts. around 4:38 p.m. Wed., Sept. 14 and made off with 60 pink negligees without paying for them, police said. Security employees discovered the theft after looking at a surveillance tape four hours later.
“Flower Bandit” sentenced
Edward Pemberton, who passed along flowers with his demand notes when he robbed two banks in Chelsea in July 2010, was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison on Wed., Sept. 14. Pemberton used a plant in a flower pot with his demand note to rob the Capital One branch at 401 W. 23rd St., and used a bouquet of cut flowers a short time later when he hit the Bank of Smithtown Branch at 127 Seventh Ave. at 18th St. Pemberton, 45, who has 14 prior arrests in West Virginia, apologized for his transgressions at his sentencing.
