Crime Watch 05.15.25

Arrest Made in Armed Gambling Robbery

At 6:27 p.m. on April 29, police officers were viewing surveillance cameras installed in the courtyard of 850 Columbus Ave. near West 103rd St. and observed a large group of individuals gambling and congregating. Then a man took a firearm out of his waistband and grabbed another man. The armed man held the firearm to the head of his victim while another individual took cash from the victim’s hands. The robber then let the victim go and passed an object to a third individual, before all parties fled in different directions. Isiah Javier, 24, was arrested on May 6 and charged with robbery. The police report did not specify the amount of cash stolen.

Man Bites Store Employee in Thwarted Shoplifting Attempt

An employee of the Westside Market at 2589 Broadway near West 98th St. said that at 11:55 p.m. on May 4, a 30-year-old man came into the store and began to conceal packages of meat on his person in an apparent shoplifting attempt. The employee confronted the suspect, and the suspect then bit the employee before dropping the meat and attempting to leave. On the way out, the suspect also took out a knife and asked the employee, “How would you feel if I stabbed you right now?” The employee sustained minor injuries, and Harrison Brady was arrested the following day and charged with robbery. The eight packages of stolen beef amounted to $198.

Home Aide Daughter Arrested for Abusing Her Mother

A 66-year-old woman living at 965 Columbus Ave. near West 107th St. reported that at 5:32 p.m. on April 30, her 47-year-old daughter, who was also her home aide, came to her house intoxicated and pushed the senior’s walker into her. The daughter then pulled her mother’s gown up and tightened it up high around her neck, causing the senior to have difficulty breathing. The daughter also tried to take her mother’s cell phone from her hand to prevent her from calling 911. Darlene Smalls was soon picked up by police and charged with assault.

Police Pick up Woman Banging on Stranger’s Door

A 75-year-old man living in public housing at 36 W. 94th St. near Central Park West filed a complaint that at 5:16 a.m. on May 5, a 49-year-old female stranger began banging on his door. Accordingly, the man came out of his apartment and began arguing with the woman. She then pulled out a yellow box cutter and lunged toward him. The man feared for his safety and reentered his apartment, closing the door. The alleged noisemaker, Frances Cruz, was soon arrested and charged with assault.

Another Senior Victimized in “Con Ed” Payment Scam

According to police, starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, April 14, a 77-year-old woman living on Central Park West began receiving emails from someone claiming to be Con Edison, writing that she owed money. In response, she sent multiple amounts of money using Zelle and wire transfer to a person named Kenia Almont plus an additional unknown suspect. She wound up paying a total of $15,179 before discovering that she had been victimized in the notorious “Con Ed” payment scam.