Multiple people were robbed late last month in Central Park by teenagers who were willing to use force to get what they wanted, one of the victims told us.
The teens involved in the robberies on November 20 were indicted last week, the victim says. A police detective told us two men were arrested for robbery and attempted robbery, although the victim says three were arrested. The robbers were apparently after iPhones. “I was leaving Central Park and they swung at me, hit my arm (causing phone to fall ) and pushed me to the concrete,” the victim wrote, adding that the event occurred around 6:30 p.m.
“I was the first of the three. I had finished running the Central Park loop. The incident was at 61st (at the exit to Columbus Circle near Trump Tower).
After they got to me I ran to an ambulance that happened to be in Columbus Circle – they treated my injuries and they called police. The police who had already been in the area rounded up the suspects within about 20 minutes (who were id’d) and when I arrived at the police station it turned out that the kids had done the same thing to two others immediately following my attack (the other two victims had id’d the suspects independently). The two others were also in the police station with me.”
Overall crime is up about 7.5% in Central Park this year, and 11% over a two-year period, according to stats released by the precinct.
Update: The DA’s office tells us that three men were arrested: Tyquan McNeill, 16; Curtis Wilson, 16; and Domanick Bethel. All three were charged with two counts of robbery, and the first two were also charged with an additional count of attempted robbery. The description from the DA is below:
| Statutory Language | the defendants forcibly stole property and in the course of the commission of the crime and immediate flight therefrom the defendants or another participant in the crime caused physical injury to a person who was not a participant in the crime; the defendants forcibly stole property while being aided by another person actually present; the defendants forcibly attempted to steal property while being aided by another person actually present. |
| Complaint Language | I am informed by an individual known to the District Attorney’s Office, that on November 20, 2013, at approximately 6:25 PM, on the corner West 60th Street and West Drive, informant observed the defendants approach informant, and one the defendants struck informant’s arm, knocking informant’s Iphone to the ground. I am further informed by informant, that a second defendant then pushed informant to the ground, causing a laceration to informant’s knee and scrapes to his hands. I am further informed by informant that the defendants took informant’s Iphone and then then ran away.
I am informed by a second individual known to the District Attorney’s Office, that on November 20, 2013, at approximately 6:35 PM, on the corner of West 62nd Street and West Drive, informant observed defendant Wilson grab informant’s cell phone and attempt to wrestle it from informant’s hand. I am further informed that informant then observed defendant McNeile push him to the ground. I am further informed by informant, while informant’s was on the ground, informant observed defendant Wilson and defendant McNeil standing over him. I am further informed by informant that when informant ran away, defendant Wilson and defendant McNeil ran after him. |
Sounds to me like this was the popular “Knockdown game” popular among Norwegian American yutes.
What time of day was this? That would provide a little more context, I think.
We added the time — around 6:30 p.m.
Anyone who has lived here for more than a day or two should know that there are thugs who will dsteal your iPhone. Keep the damn thing in your pocket. Chances are you won’t miss anything. Sorry this happens but its life in the city. Beware.
Undoubtedly will get worse as stop and frisk ends.
Waiting for the UWS libtards to come and defend this outrageous criminal behavior…….
“UWS Libtards”? Is this kind of name calling really necessary?
well, what would call those who defend outsiders who come to a community and violently terrorize its residents?
Perhaps the three arrested: Tyquan McNeill, 16; Curtis Wilson, 16; and Domanick Bethel, didn’t want to return to their dangerous neighborhoods and wanted to relax in the safety of the UWS.
The above was the rationale in a last week post regarding teenagers congregating at the McDonalds at 71 and bway.
Since when are 16 yo’s ‘men’? Looks like we need some more carry permits tho.
My son’s been
…mugged twice and once lost his phone. It was in his pocket and the three guys saw the shape and pushed him up against a fence in front of PS 9. This was about a year ago. Frankly, problem teens have been less of a problem since Brandeis HS left. That’s a fact in our lives: our family had four run-ins with kids from there. Some of this is inevitable living in a dense urban environment, but to those who criticize these “outsiders” coming in, we need to remember that many violent crimes happen within local neighborhoods and against people the perps know.