By Carol Tannenhauser
A suspect in a seven-crime armed-robbery spree, targeting food vendors and restaurants mainly on the UWS, was arrested Friday, April 20, according to a police spokesperson.
On April 16, Ryan Little, 37, from Harlem, allegedly robbed a taco truck in front of 2030 Broadway (70th Street), police reported. He walked up, ordered food, displayed a handgun and demanded money and a phone from a 19-year-old woman, taking $500 and her cellphone.
“When he left he stated he would return in five minutes and if the victim leaves the truck he will shoot her,” the police report read. It went on to detail the other crimes.
On April 17, at 502 Amsterdam Avenue (El Gallo Taqueria), a man entered the restaurant a little before midnight, “asked if they were open, displayed a handgun and removed money from the register. $119 and the tip jar were removed.”
On April 18, “on the southeast corner of Broadway and West 86th Street – Salien Das Fruit Stand – the suspect approached a 50-year-old male and asked for change of a $10 bill. When the victim pulled out money, the suspect displayed a handgun and took approximately $150. The perp started to walk away then demanded the victim’s iPhone and took that too, valued at $850.”
On April 19, in front of 350 Amsterdam Avenue (76-77) – Tasty Burrito Mexican Food – a man displayed a firearm and removed $150 from a 31-year-old woman.
Also on April 19, the suspect returned to the taco truck on 70th Street that he had already robbed, “displayed a handgun,” and took $65 from a 48-year-old female victim.
The suspect’s other two hits allegedly took place in Harlem, again involving a food truck and restaurant. At the last incident, which took place on April 20, “the suspect entered the location, displayed a firearm and removed $1,500 from the register. An individual at the location chased the suspect who fled into St. Nicholas Park where police apprehended the suspect. A loaded .40 caliber firearm was recovered in the vicinity.”
The police report said the charges were “U.S. Code Unclassified,” and that “the suspect is being charged federally.” No description of the suspect was given.
The investigation is ongoing.
(Thanks to Thomas Brophy for the tip!)
Thanks go to the brave ‘individual that chased the suspect’. Would be nice to have a little writeup about the hero in the WSR. I hope the suspect gets a speedy and fair trial, and if guilty spends a long time in jail. Enough!
Totally agree. Seven cases of armed robbery should merit no bail and a long prison sentence. If it is confirmed that it is the same person who committed all seven crimes, I find it hard to believe that anyone would argue otherwise.
Kudos to NYPD and especially the citizen who chased him down for doing a fine job.
Assuming all of the facts hold up, let’s make an example of him and show that NYPD will track you down and there will be a meaningful penalty for crimes like this. Perhaps that will deter others.
Wonderful news! Send him to the slammer.
How can we stay on top of this to make sure he’s not released on bail only to commit more robberies?
Sad. This city has certainly taken a sharp turn downward into violence. Literally a tale of two cities.
Can anyone enlighten us on why the charges would be “U.S. Code Unclassified” and “the suspect is being charged federally”?
Federal court will set significant bail and insure perp will not abscond. Avoid NYC DA who is more interested in coddling the criminal than prosecuting. Excellent strategy by the NYPD
Most likely because of local NYS “bail reform” and the inability to process this seven time, violent loser. It also might have something to do with the gun he used, where he got it, etc. It might also have to do with stealing phones and the FCC. Who knows? As long as the penalties are stiffer, which they most likely are, the better it is. It also means he gets to go to a federal penitentiary. I would have preferred a seven time robber with a loaded gun get a taste of his own weapon, but that is way too optimistic.
I am wondering whether any effort is made to get back those ill-gotten gains and reimburse those poor people who were robbed. The fruit guy on W86th st works so hard. He is out $1,000! Wondering if there can be some restitution, eg if there is a jail term for this criminal, then make him at least work off the debt to those he robbed.
US Code unclassified means he was handed over to the US Attorney for prosecution in the federal system. Likely charge is 18 USC 922g — which carries stiff penalties for convicted felons who are later caught with a gun. It’s not a good development for this guy but is a good development for anyone who cares about law and order.
It would be great to read a followup from the Rag on this case with a special focus on why Manhattan’s DA Alvin Bragg appears to have been left out of the prosecution. If holding up a taco truck in the UWS can be classified as a federal crime, perhaps there is still hope.
I hope this isn’t another case where the thug is politely requested to show up for a hearing at some future date then returned to the streets so he can continue his reign of terror.
Should we assume he was released without bail within hours of being arrested?
Great police work and citizen cooperation. That’s the critical combo of effort that is required to turn around this crime spree and get these dangerous people with guns off of our streets. Now, it’s up to the DA’s office or federal prosecutors to charge these crimes properly and insure that this dangerous menace is not back out on our streets to commit more or even worse crimes.
There have been too many crime incidents on the UWS because police have been too scarce and the justice system too lenient. These crimes are not happening on the Upper East Side, even though that’s where much more money and valuable property is to be found. Why is that?
This is the WEST side rag.. I’m pretty sure the sites that report on the EAST side have very similar stories…
What a ruthless criminal! He should spend at least 10 years in prison!!!! I can’t believe he robbed so many people!
Always heartwarming to hear that the bad guys do get caught.
Gratitude goes to the police and the citizens who help them.