Police arrested a suspect Wednesday who allegedly followed a woman into a building in Midtown and robbed her, ending the crime by performing a “lewd act” in front of her earlier this week.
Brandon Simosa, a 25-year-old homeless man, was cuffed on Nov. 19 on a list of charges, including third-degree sexually motivated burglary and third-degree sexually motivated robbery, for the Nov. 17 robbery of a woman in Hell’s Kitchen.
Detectives escorted Simosa out of the Midtown South Precinct stationhouse on Wednesday afternoon in handcuffs. Simosa, who appeared to wear boots that were too big for him, muttered at reporters in Spanish, “Look at the shoes they gave me.”
On Tuesday night, police recognized the perp from surveillance photos when they spotted and arrested him in front of the Row Hotel at 700 8th Ave. just before 6:30 p.m.
Sources familiar with the investigation said that Simosa had eight prior arrests this year, and is possibly connected to gang activity.
According to law enforcement sources, Simosa allegedly followed the 38-year-old woman into a residential building near West 44th Street and 9th Avenue at around 2 a.m. on Nov. 17 when he approached her and demanded cash.
After refusing, Simosa rifled through her purse and snagged her cellphone and several debit cards.
Not satisfied with only robbing the woman, the perp then performed a “lewd act” in front of her, police said, before fleeing on foot to parts unknown.
Authorities could not confirm if the victim lived in the building where the crime occurred, located in the Midtown North Precinct, but she was not injured as a result of the ordeal.
Police apprehended Simosa on Tuesday, just two days after the woman was robbed. The Row Hotel is located in the Midtown South Precinct, not far from where the incident took place.
Sources familiar with the case said that Simosa was apprehended with a crack pipe and clothing that had been reported stolen from Macy’s department store earlier in the day in his possession.
In addition to burglary and robbery, the suspect faces a slew of other charges, including: fourth-degree grand larceny; four counts, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property; two counts petit larceny; fifth degree criminal possession of stolen property; and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
