By Carol Tannenhauser
Police are looking for the man pictured above for allegedly attempting to steal a Citi Bike from a 49-year-old man who was riding in the vicinity of Central Park West and West 86th Street, at 2:30 a.m., on June 19.
The would-be robber first “sprayed the victim in the face with an unknown substance, which caused burning and irritation to his eyes,” according to a police report. He then knocked the man off the bike and attempted to flee with it, but “the victim was able to catch up to [him], tried retrieving his bicycle back, and when he did was punched in the face several times. The [assailant] fled without the bicycle into the Central Park West and 86 Street MTA C/B subway station. EMS responded and treated the victim on scene.”
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.
All calls are strictly confidential.
One thing that is different from say 5 years ago is the sheer brazenness of these attacks. No one has to stop for a second and think about the consequences of their impulses because there is no resulting punishment for anti-social behavior. Without consequences you’ll never stop this sort of thing. These people are clearly not worried at all about getting caught. The cops are unmotivated and know that if they detain this individual he will be let out hours later – so why bother?
Until we have meaningful punishments that cause people to stop for a moment and think, we will see more depraved acts like this.
Nab the sprayer.
Charge him with criminal assult.
Find him guilty.
Make an example of him.
Send him to jail for 5 years.
I read about this in another newspaper. The same paper had an article about a man who was randomly sucker-punched by a younger man on Broadway.
I don’t want to hear about how this perp shouldn’t have to go to Rikers.
You unnecessarily disparage the police as unmotivated and yet this article only exists because the NYPD posted the very clear photo above asking for tips to catch the guy. And he will be caught with a photo as useful as that. I don’t know what will happen to him in the justice system but he will not be getting a life sentence nor the death penalty so will eventually be back for more mischief regardless of how harshly he might be punished.
Who said he will be getting the death penalty or life, or that anyone thinks he deserves that?
I think that what many of us want is for meaningful consequences for a crime like this. As I understand it, because the victim was not gravely injured, if they catch the criminal, he will face almost no penalty.
If there was a meaningful penalty, particularly for repeat offenders, they will be less likely to commit crimes when they get out, and others will take notice and be less likely to commit crimes to begin with. And again, by meaningful I do not mean life if this is his first offense. But more than a slap on the wrist of a fine or something else minimal.
NYPD is doing the best they can. But one cannot fault them for being discouraged when they work hard and often put their well-being at risk to catch someone, only to be pumping into that same person again in the near future, even if they were found guilty.
>>If there was a meaningful penalty, particularly for repeat offenders, they will be less likely to commit crimes when they get out, and others will take notice and be less likely to commit crimes to begin with. <<
First, define "meaningful". Second, you claim a "meaningful penalty" will deter
future crime as if that's self-evident.
It isn't. The studies I've seen suggest most perps don't consider that they'll be caught at all, much less factor in the possible penalty.. And incarceration can serve as "advanced training" for crime.
When he is in jail for 5 years for assault, he cannot commit further crimes.
So what is your suggestion? And I am referring to a suggestion that will help sooner rather than later. Yes, social programs, housing, etc. might help, but that takes a really long time to be effective.
A lot of people around here are really good at shooting down other people’s ideas, but either a) don’t have alternatives, or b) have alternatives that work in a utopian fantasy land but not in the real world.
A few years in jail (that is how I define meaningful) will put some fear in a criminal. And when they get out and tell their friends about it, their friends will fear that option. Yes, they might think they are smarter than the prior person and less likely to get caught, but at some point, this influences the cost/benefit analysis of committing a petty crime, or a bigger crime. This is elementary psychology.
Who risks his life for a Citibike?
It is not for a citibike or any bike. It is being fed up with perps ruling the city.
Absolutely what I was thinking! Not only for Citibike but for any bike !
Maybe he was not going to let some punk get over on him & he decided to fight back. I would! Or maybe he didn’t want to go through the aggravation of contesting the 1000 dollar fee if the Citibike was not returned. ]
that’s what most of these punks count on – we’re too scared to fight back
I thought there were programs so a person experiencing poverty could get a bike for free and not be forced to steal or harm other people just because they want to belong? I don’t know this assailant’s situation but maybe all this crime and violence has nothing to do with economic factors? Or do we blame the victim for being out so late? Or maybe the assailant is an anti bike activist? Do you think he paid his fare?
This is going to keep happening, the shoplifting is going to keep happening, the violence is going to keep happening until law makers and law enforcement get on the same page. I’ve been an uws’er for 23 years. I’m actively figuring out how to get out of here at least part time. Shame on both our politicians and law enforcement
At no point in the last 23 years has it been safe to be in Central Park at 2:30 am.
The perp fled into the park
The article clearly states the victim was in the vicinity of the park. Not in the park.
Read. Central Park West. Not The park. There is an uptown bike lane there. Lost 500 parking spots for it.
This is false. I’ve run in the park 100s of times between 3am and 6am.
No victim-blaming, please. The article did not say the biker was IN Central Park but in the VICINITY of CPW and 86th St., apparently close enough for the assailant to escape into the subway station. This sounds like a crime of opportunity by someone who has never learned (or been taught) impulse control– a syndrome from which, unfortunately, too many suffer. I’m glad the rider was not badly injured.
I agree with no victim-blaming, but why are so many people making excuses for criminal behavior? After reading through the comments here I don’t know why the police are even bothering to look for the ‘assailant.’
I don’t see any excuses for criminal behavior in the comments. Just frustration with such behavior. And clarification of what actually happened, according to the article.
Mark my words. The next mayor will be the candidate who, before the election takes concrete and effective steps to deal with these issues, including ebikes, scooters, motor bikes and motorcycles ignoring red lights and going the wrong way. Perhaps Mayor Adams or not. It will not be the many stupid people we elected on the basis we are familiar with their names which has been their only job qualification along with working in the local Democratic clubhouse. Not a single one of them has actually done anything other than attending meetings to tell us they plan to work with others to take action. Hot air. I have not yet seen any action nor any improvement.
I wish you were right. But unfortunately, this city is populated by too many bleeding hearts who think we should be kind to criminals and think that we should continue to throw away billions on social programs that don’t work instead of putting the bad guys away.
I think social programs are critical and we should have better schools, more low-income housing, better healthcare for the poor, etc. But this is not mutually exclusive – if you do the crime, you do the time. It is simple.
And contrary to the opinions of the progressives here, most of us who feel this way are lifelong, anti-Trump Democrats. We just have a bit more common sense and are more willing to compromise than the two extremes that tend to dominate the conversation in this country.
Why bring Trump into the conversation?
Can we not have a decent one without always bringing
up his name?
He is in the past. Hopefully he will stay in the past.
Lets not have him live rent free in our heads.
Please!
Because this neighborhood CONSTANTLY brings up Trump if you even breathe a word of common sense, anti-crime, anti-support 80,000+ migrants when we have no funding for it, etc. If you are a MODERATE Democrat in this UWS BUBBLE, you are considered a Trumper. And not every Republican is a Trumper either. This neighborhood is beyond ridiculous in keeping the blinders on and ignoring what is really happening because the BUBBLE keeps everyone thinking the same. “It’s Trump’s fault!”, “Republicans are all bad!”
It’s this uniform Koolaide drinking ridiculous thinking that has led to our decline. I don’t blame Leon for having to stress he is anti-Trump. No one will listen if you don’t shout that first. Hope this even gets printed.
The criminals have no fear because there are no repercussions.
Make a difference- anyone who cares about our Seniors and children who are often targeted.
Call DA Bragg.
Be polite and respectful and let the office know your concerns.
One Hogan Place
212-335-9000
HARLEM OFFICE
163 West 125th Street
212-864-7884
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS OFFICE
530 West 166th Street, Suite 600A
212-335-3320
It seems the perp tried to steal the bike to avoid taking the subway at 2;30 in the morning. Guess he was afraid to ride the subway at night. Once the victim foiled that plan, the idiot had to take the subway anyway, as is evidenced from the location of the picture. I wonder if he jumped the turnstile too. Also, I wonder if his intent after he got to his location was to put the citibike back in the rack
I hope the cyclist is okay.