Category Archives: Police Watch

Police Watch: Man choked woman on bus, Teen busted for stolen credit cards

MAN CHOKED WOMAN ON BUS, SPIT ON COPS
Police arrested a 30-year-old John Doe for alleged obstruction of breath in front of 489 Second Avenue on Saturday, December 1 at 1:19 p.m. The victim told police that the man approached her while she was on a bus and took his thumbs, pressing them to her neck while pressing her face against the window. The man was also charged with harassment. The man was also charged with resisting arrest and harassment for allegedly spitting on two officers who were attempting to arrest him.

ACS TEEN BUSTED FOR STOLEN CREDIT CARDS
Police arrested a teenager for possession of stolen property inside the ACS facility at 492 First Avenue on Saturday, December 1 at 1:37 p.m. Police said that the teen was in possession of six credit cards that didn’t belong to him.

MAN ARRESTED IN UNION SQUARE FOR ALLEGED MIDTOWN ROBBERY
Police arrested 30-year-old Dejuan Gore at the corner of Union Square East and East 14th on Monday, November 26 for an alleged robbery that took place in Midtown in October. Police said that Gore and another person allegedly robbed the victim inside the subway station at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue on October 17 at 8:45 a.m. The other suspect allegedly punched the victim in the face, causing pain and swelling, while Gore reportedly took cell phones from the victim.

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Police Watch: Alleged subway ‘grinder’ arrested, Men charged with assault outside Food Emporium

ALLEGED SUBWAY ‘GRINDER’ ON 6 TRAIN ARRESTED
Police arrested 64-year-old Mohamed Abdel Rahim for alleged sexual abuse inside the Union Square station on Tuesday, November 20 at 5:30 p.m. Rahim allegedly thrust his erect penis onto the victim’s buttocks while they were on an uptown 6 train. Police said that Rahim and the victim did not know each other.

MEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT OUTSIDE FOOD EMPORIUM
Police arrested 43-year-old Kitwane Parkinson and 39-year-old Alexander Rivera for an alleged assault on Monday, November 19 at 4:25 p.m. in front of 10 Union Square East. Parkinson and Rivera allegedly kicked and punched the victim inside the location due to an argument they had earlier in the day. Police said that the victim had bruised lips.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF STEALING WALLET FROM HOLIDAY MARKET VENDOR
Police arrested 32-year-old Dominique Elgin for an alleged theft that took place in Union Square earlier this month. A vendor at the Union Square Holiday Market told police that she left her purse on a chair in her booth on Sunday, November 18 and around 5:50 p.m., she noticed that her wallet was missing from the bag. Police said that Elgin had allegedly used the victim’s credit card. She was busted on Wednesday, November 21 at 7:20 p.m. inside the 13th Precinct.

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Man sentenced to five months for bodega robbery, lawsuit alleges sex abuse at spa

MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE MONTHS FOR 14TH STREET BODEGA ROBBERY

The Manhattan District Attorney has announced the quick sentencing of 36-year-old Eutano Bernard to five months in jail for a robbery inside the bodega at 353 East 14th Street on Wednesday, November 14 at 6:53 a.m. Bernard pleaded guilty to assault in the third degree and was sentenced on Monday. He had entered the store, Community Candy, west of First Avenue, on Wednesday morning and told the cashier, “Give me the money,” before he tried to get behind the counter. He then attacked the store employee, causing cuts to the victim’s head and mouth.

MAN FILES SEX ABUSE LAWSUIT AGAINST FLATIRON SPA WORKER

The New York Post reported that a man who said he was sexually abused while getting a massage in the Living Fresh Men’s Spa at 44 West 22nd Street is suing the person he accused of the crime. As Town & Village reported in September, 47-year-old Pei Tian was charged with sexual abuse after he allegedly removed the towel from the victim during a massage and used his hands to touch the victim’s genitals and buttocks. The suit says that the victim, New Jersey resident Ronnie Arnau, went to the spa with his husband to get a massage and facial but 10 minutes into the session, Tian began focusing “exclusively” on Arnau’s buttocks, making him uncomfortable. The suit seeks unspecified damages and Arnau’s lawyer said that the spa ignored her client when Arnau first reported the assault.

MAN CHARGED WITH EXTORTION OVER PHONE STOLEN FROM GYM

Police arrested 40-year-old Sefu Sieka for an alleged theft in front of 4 Union Square East on Tuesday, November 13 at 11:19 a.m. The victim previously went into the 13th Precinct and told police that his wallet had been stolen from his locker while he was working out at a Blink Fitness.
He said that after it was taken, an unknown woman contacted him and said that she had his wallet and credit cards and wanted a reward from him in exchange for returning the wallet. She also reportedly told the victim that she had used the money in his wallet to buy food.
The victim and special operations officers from the 13th Precinct set up a meeting with the victim and Sieka, at which point Sieka was allegedly seen with the victim’s wallet before handing it over in exchange for cash. He was arrested shortly after. Sieka was charged with grand larceny by extortion, possession of stolen property and petit larceny.

WOMAN ALLEGEDLY LIED HER WAY INTO A FLATIRON APARTMENT

Police arrested 66-year-old Constance Gibbons for allegedly trespassing inside an apartment at 1107 Broadway this summer. Police said that Gibbons went inside the building on July 17 around 5 p.m. and gave the doorman her name, allegedly telling him that she was a representative of Eaton Properties, a property management company. Police said that the doorman gave her a key to one of the apartments, which she then reportedly entered unlawfully. Gibbons was arrested inside the 13th Precinct on Friday, November 16 at 5:34 p.m. Police said that Gibbons gained entry into an apartment by use of deception and remained there without permission.

‘DRUNK’ DRIVER ARRESTED AFTER CRASHING INTO SCAFFOLDING

Police arrested 25-year-old Einne Bunting after he was involved in an accident in front of 49 West 20th Street on Saturday, November 17 at 2:39 a.m. Police said that Bunting was driving east on West 20th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue, allegedly speeding, when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle, spun out of control and crashed into the scaffolding in front of the building on West 20th. When police arrived, Bunting allegedly had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes. Bunting was taken to Bellevue Hospital for blood testing after he was arrested. He was charged with criminal mischief and intoxicated driving.

MAN ACCUSED OF DAMAGING LYFT DRIVER’S CAR IN KIPS BAY

Police arrested 28-year-old Youssouf Konate for allegedly damaging a car at the corner of First Avenue and East 28th Street on Saturday, November 17 at 8:45 a.m. The victim told police that he received a call to pick up Konate from his Lyft app. When he arrived, Konate and five other men tried to get into the victim’s car. The victim told Konate that he wasn’t allowed to have that many people in the car, after which Donate allegedly kicked the passenger’s side rear door, leaving a dent.

TEEN WORKER ARRESTED FOR STEALING CASH FROM BED BATH & BEYOND

Police arrested a teenager inside the bed Bath & Beyond at 620 Sixth Avenue for petit larceny on Tuesday, November 13 at 8:30 p.m. Police said that the teen, an employee at the store, was observed swiping cash from the store’s register on various occasions between November 5 and 12. The total value lost was under $1,000. The teen’s name is being withheld because of his young age.

Police Watch: Man charged with Union Square assault, Woman punched on East 22nd

MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT OF WOMAN IN UNION SQUARE
Police arrested 25-year-old Gage Quinones for an alleged assault in front of 24 Union Square East on Wednesday, November 7. The victim told police that after she smoked meth with Quinones that morning, they got into an argument that escalated into a fight when Quinones allegedly punched her in the mouth, causing a cut on her bottom lip. Quinones was also charged with criminal contempt.

Quinones has been arrested multiple times within the 13th Precinct, usually in or around Union Square, in the last few years. He was charged with assault in 2016 after police said that he hit a man in the back of the head with a brick, breaking four bones. He also allegedly mugged someone in Union Square in 2014 and assaulted someone with a bike lock in the park this past June.

MAN ALLEGEDLY PUNCHES WOMAN ON EAST 22ND STREET
Police arrested 38-year-old Rashawn Duran for an alleged assault in front of 33 East 22nd Street on Sunday, November 11 at 11:04 a.m. The victim told police that she was walking down the sidewalk when Duran allegedly punched her in the face, causing swelling and bruising. The victim said that there was no previous altercation between them before the alleged assault. Duran was stopped in front of 29 East 22nd Street and the victim and a witness positively identified him. The victim was treated on the scene and removed to Bellevue Hospital.

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Police Watch: Man arrested for filming woman in bathroom, Student arrested for releasing sex tape

MAN ALLEGEDLY FILMED WOMAN IN UNION SQUARE BATHROOM
Police arrested 28-year-old Olubenga Adesanya for allegedly filming a woman while she was inside a bathroom stall in the restroom inside the Union Square subway station on Tuesday, July 10 at 2:30 p.m. The woman told police that she went into the bathroom and when she got into the stall, noticed that there was a cell phone camera lens pointed down at her and she could see a person’s feet under the bottom of the stall. When she walked out of the bathroom, she reportedly saw Adesanya in the stall and confronted him outside the restroom, but he wasn’t arrested at the time. Police said that Adesanya turned himself in to officers at Transit District 4 at the corner of East 14th Street and Union Square East on Wednesday, October 31 at 7:15 p.m. because he saw himself on a wanted flyer. He was charged with obscene material.

SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE STUDENT ARRESTED FOR SENDING SEX TAPE TO FRIENDS
Police arrested a teenager for promoting a sexual performance by a child and aggravated harassment after he leaked a video on Tuesday, October 9 of him and his ex-girlfriend having sex. The victim told police that the suspect released the video while they were in the School of the Future at 127 East 22nd Street where they are both students, and that he sent the video to his friends because the victim broke up with him. The victim told police that she was aware of the video but didn’t authorize the suspect to share it with his friends. The teen was arrested on Tuesday, October 30 at 9:35 p.m. inside the 13th Precinct. His name is being withheld due to his young age.

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Police Watch: Man arrested for allegedly filming woman, Handy.com worker accused of theft

MAN ALLEGEDLY FILMED TEEN MCDONALD’S EMPLOYEE WHILE SHE WAS CHANGING
Police arrested 19-year-old Jose Urtarte Encarcanacion for alleged unlawful surveillance inside the McDonald’s at 401 Park Avenue South and East 28th Street on Friday, October 26 at 5:07 p.m. According to the District Attorney’s office, the 17-year-old victim went into a unisex single-person changing area for employees at the restaurant.

Police said that the private area has a curtain that can be closed, and the victim went inside to change her clothes. She said that once she was in the changing area, she noticed an iPhone 7 plus propped up on the coat rack with the camera app open, and she saw that the phone was recording video. Police said that officers recovered the phone from Encarcanacion’s pocket while he was in the back office of the McDonald’s. At the time, he also allegedly said, “Am I in trouble? Will there be any punishment? The phone must have clicked on the video camera. iPhones do that.”

An attorney for Encarcanacion could not be reached for comment.

HANDY.COM WORKER ACCUSED OF THEFT
Police arrested 26-year-old Destiny Matos for an alleged theft from an apartment at 39 West 16th Street on October 8 around 7 p.m. Police said that while Matos was working for cleaning service Handy.com, she allegedly took the victim’s credit card from her apartment and later made several unauthorized charges. Matos was charged with grand larceny inside the 13th Precinct on Tuesday, October 23 at 7:48 p.m.

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Police Watch: Three charged with Barcade robbery, Dog walker arrested for burglaries

THREE CHARGED WITH BARCADE ROBBERY
Police arrested three additional people for an alleged robbery that took place at Barcade on West 24th Street at the end of September. Twenty-seven-year-old Gilberto Morales, 24-year-old Yannick Eva and 25-year-old Sedale Whyte were charged with robbery in connection with the incident. Town & Village previously reported that 27-year-old Adonri Imade was caught at the time of the incident.

The victim told police that he was at the bar playing a game with the four suspects on September 29 around 2:30 a.m. and after he lost a bet, he pulled out his wallet to pay for drinks. Police said that the four suspects attacked him, giving him a cut lip. The victim said that he fell while the three men allegedly continued to kick him, and police said that Imade grabbed his wallet before attempting to flee.

Morales was also charged with assault, and Whyte was also charged with grand larceny for the alleged theft of the victim’s credit card. The three men turned themselves in to the precinct last week. Imade was charged with robbery as well as escape, when she allegedly got out of the police car while handcuffed and reportedly tried to flee.

DOG WALKER BUSTED FOR BURGLARIES
Police arrested 23-year-old Joshua Wilder for burglaries he allegedly committed by using his access as a dog walker to get into victim’s apartments earlier this month.

Police said that Wilder stole a yellow diamond ring valued at $95,000 from the victim’s apartment located within the 13th Precinct on Monday, October 15. The victim told police that Wilder, the dog walker, was the only other person who had a key to the apartment. Continue reading →

Police Watch: Six arrested for helping brothels advertise online, launder money

SIX CHARGED WITH HELPING BROTHELS ADVERTISE ONLINE, LAUNDER MONEY
This past Monday, police arrested six people in connection with a scheme to promote and finance brothels throughout the city, including one on 14th Street, the Daily News reported. The six suspects reportedly built websites for the brothels and are being charged with money laundering.

The websites went by the names “One Hour Girlfriend,” “Kiss Kiss Pop” and “Shake Shake Girls,” and showed photos of prostitutes from the brothels. Police said that Kwong Kyu (Kevin) Kim and Hyun Kyung (Jay Hee) Han, who are married, and Hong Nae (Diane) Yi reportedly issued high-interest loans to brothel owners in Manhattan and set up bank accounts to keep money going into and out of the brothels. Court documents said that Han owned the brothel on 14th Street, as well as one on 39th Street. Additional suspects Beirne (Michael) Lowey, Tien Chih Wang and Zhengyi (Allen) Lu allegedly helped to set up web pages and ads for the brothels.

Police said that Lowey, who allegedly photographed the prostitutes, was seen placing stickers advertising the websites on light posts, parking meters and other surfaces on Third Avenue between East 10th and 31st Streets.

Wang and Lu allegedly used bitcoin to purchase advertising credits on Backpage.com, which was seized by the federal government in April, and the suspects reportedly resold the credits on their own website.

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Police Watch: Man arrested for punching women, Woman accused of stealing purse

JOHN DOE ARRESTED FOR PUNCHING WOMEN
Police arrested a 19-year-old John Doe for an assault that took place at the corner of Third Avenue and East 17th Street on Thursday, October 4 at 6:14 p.m. The victim told police that she was walking west on East 17th Street when the suspect walked up to her and punched her in the face without provocation. A witness told police that the man had punched another woman in the face as well but that victim was not at the scene by the time police arrived. The victim told police that she had pain on her upper lip and redness on her palm from when she fell on the ground. The suspect was referred to as a John Doe by police because he had no ID when arrested.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF STEALING PURSE AT PARK
Police arrested 38-year-old Dominique Eligin for an alleged theft from the corner of Madison Avenue and East 26th Street on Tuesday, October 2 at 12:48 p.m. Police said that Eligin grabbed the victim’s purse from a bench along the park and fled east on East 26th Street towards Park Avenue South, but the victim caught up with her and allegedly recovered the property from inside her backpack. Eligin was charged with grand larceny, possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.

MAN BUSTED FOR EQUINOX BURGLARY
Police arrested 50-year-old William Clanton for an alleged burglary from the Equinox at 315 Park Avenue South during the overnight hours of September 8. Police said that Clanton forced open the door to the gym at 2 a.m. and allegedly stole clothing and electronics. Clanton was arrested for burglary and theft inside the 13th Precinct on Wednesday, October 3 at 9:15 a.m.

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Police Watch: Teens arrested for robbery, assault in separate incidents

TEENS ARRESTED FOR BELLEVUE PARK SOUTH ROBBERY
Police arrested three teenagers for robbery at the corner of Third Avenue and East 24th Street on Tuesday, September 25 at 6:16 p.m. Police said that the two girls and one boy were working together to steal multiple cell phones from victims while inside Bellevue South Park near 260 Mount Carmel Place earlier that day at 3 p.m. Police said that the teens also grabbed one of the victims by the throat and threw him to the ground before fleeing. The teens were caught after officers searched the area and the victim positively identified them at Third and East 24th.

TEENS ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT AT ASSER LEVY
Police arrested three teenagers for assault that took place at the Asser Levy playground at East 23rd Street and Avenue C on Tuesday, September 25 at 4 p.m. The victim told police that she was playing football in the park when the three suspects walked up to her and started punching her in the face. The victim said that the teens attacked her because she “snitched” on them in regards to an incident from the day before. The teens were arrested inside the 13th precinct on Tuesday, September 25 at 5:58 p.m.

MEN CHARGED WITH STEALING CAR IN EAST VILLAGE
Police arrested 24-year-old Ishmill Jordan, 36-year-old Chris Bazaar and 41-year-old Juan Gonzalez for allegedly stealing a car in the East Village last week. Police said that the victim was putting money in a meter for his car that was parked in front of 153 Avenue A near East 10th Street on Friday, September 28 at 2:50 p.m. when Jordan allegedly jumped into the unlocked vehicle with Bazaar and Gonzalez and drove away. The three were caught at the corner of Irving Place and East 15th Street at 6:03 p.m. and were charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and unauthorized use of vehicle, and Jordan was additionally charged with grand larceny of auto.

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Police Watch: Men arrested for cornering woman, assaulting date in separate incidents

MAN ACCUSED OF CORNERING WOMAN IN BAR BATHROOM
Police arrested 35-year-old Ronald Alomar for alleged unlawful imprisonment inside the Oscar Wilde bar at 45 West 27th Street on Friday, September 21 at 8:15 p.m.

The victim told police that she was in the women’s bathroom in one of the stalls and when she was finished, she unlocked the door to leave. Upon doing so, Alomar allegedly walked into the same stall using his body to push the victim against the stall wall. The victim said that Alomar didn’t move but didn’t allow her to leave, using the front of his body to hold her in the stall.

The victim said that she ultimately wiggled her way out of the stall and Alomar allegedly fled but was caught at 28th Street and Sixth Avenue. The victim said that Alomar never said a word and never used his hands to touch her.

Alomar was also charged with harassment for allegedly spitting on an officer while inside the vestibule at Bellevue Hospital on Saturday, September 22 at 12:45 a.m.

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Police Watch: Naked man arrested for trespassing, Man busted for sex abuse at spa

NAKED MAN ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING
Police arrested 35-year-old Kevin King for alleged criminal trespass inside 156 West 15th Street on Monday, September 3 at 11:57 a.m. A woman told police that she saw a naked man on the fire escape of the building entering through a broken window. Police said that King, a Queens resident, was found inside the building without permission to be there and he was allegedly inside one of the apartments with the door locked.

MAN BUSTED FOR SEX ABUSE AT SPA
Police arrested 47-year-old Pei Tian for the alleged sexual abuse of a male customer inside Living Fresh Men’s Spa at 44 East 22nd Street on Saturday, September 8 at 2:44 p.m. Police said that Tian removed the towel from the victim during a massage and used his hands to intentionally touch the victim’s buttocks and genitals without permission. The victim said that he felt uncomfortable and left the room after the incident.

SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT IN UNION SQUARE
Police arrested 29-year-old Gerald Mosley for alleged assault in front of 4 Union Square East on Monday, September 3 around 2:46 p.m. Police said that Mosley approached a man who was walking down the street and punched him in his arm, causing pain. He also allegedly knocked the victim’s phone out of his hand, knocking it to the ground and causing the screen to the crack. A woman also told police that Mosley allegedly punched her in the ribs, causing pain. Mosley was also charged with criminal mischief.

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Police Watch: Man charged with lewdness, Alleged dealer arrested

MAN CHARGED WITH LEWDNESS AT UNION SQUARE SUBWAY STATION
Police arrested 61-year-old Victor Colon for alleged public lewdness and harassment inside the Union Square subway station at Union Square East and East 14th Street on Sunday, September 2 at 7:11 p.m. The victim told police that Colon intentionally exposed his penis to her and when she attempted to walk away from him, he allegedly grabbed her by her hair and pulled her back.

ALLEGED DEALER ARRESTED FOR NOT GIVING CUSTOMER HIS POT
Police arrested 23-year-old Mamadou Diallo for alleged fraudulent accosting at the corner of Broadway and West 28th Street on Tuesday, August 28 at 2:19 a.m. The victim told police that he went up to Diallo to purchase marijuana, giving him $9 in cash. The victim said that he then asked Diallo for his money back but Diallo allegedly refused and walked east on West 29th Street away from the victim. Police said that Diallo never returned the victim’s money or provided him with marijuana. Diallo allegedly defrauded the victim of his money intentionally. He was arrested after police searched the area and he was positively identified by the victim at the scene.

MEN ARRESTED AFTER RETURNING TO BANK WHERE THEY ALLEGEDLY USED STOLEN CARDS
Police arrested two men inside the ATM vestibule at 233 Third Avenue for an alleged theft on Friday, August 31 at 7:30 a.m. A man and a woman reported to police that they got alerts that their debit cards were being used at the Chase Bank ATM three times without success at some point between 2:30 and 4 a.m.

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Police Watch: Senior arrested for ‘extortion,’ Man busted for Ainsworth burglary

SENIOR CHARGED WITH HOLDING PHONE FOR RANSOM NEAR STUY TOWN
Police arrested 71-year-old El Shaday Yova for alleged grand larceny by extortion at the corner of Avenue C and East 20th Street on Tuesday, August 14 at 5:53 p.m. The victim told police that he left his phone in a taxi and when he called his number, Yova allegedly answered and said that he wanted a reward for finding the phone. Police said that Yova agreed to meet the victim in front of 321 Avenue C to claim a reward, and prior to getting arrested, the victim said that Yova refused to give him his cell phone back until he had the money. Yova was also charged with possession of stolen property.

SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR AINSWORTH BURGLARY
Police arrested a second suspect in connection with an alleged burglary at the Ainsworth at 111 East 18th Street that took place in July. Police arrested 26-year-old Hnsel Devron for the burglary on Monday, August 13 at 3:30 p.m. inside the 13th Precinct.

Police said that Devron and one other person who wasn’t arrested pried open a side door at the bar and entered the building without permission on July 12 around 9 p.m. They reportedly walked out of the bar with two bags containing property. Police did not have further information about what property was taken. The bar was reportedly closed to the public but still contained several liquor bottles. Police also said that technicians were able to lift fingerprints from the door and matched them to Devron.

Town & Village previously reported that 34-year-old Hector Rosario was arrested for the burglary at the time of the incident. Rosario was allegedly acting as the lookout while Devron and a third suspect reportedly broke into the bar. Police caught Rosario three blocks away at the corner of Union Square East and East 15th Street and charged him with possession of stolen property.

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Police Watch: Men arrested for masturbating, filming under woman’s skirt

MAN CHARGED WITH MASTURBATING IN FRONT OF WOMAN AT AUGUSTUS ST. GAUDENS BATHROOM
Police arrested 23-year-old Trevon Stroman for allegedly trapping a woman inside the public restroom at the Augustus St. Gaudens playground while masturbating on Saturday, August 11 at 6:55 p.m.

The victim told police that she was in the public restroom in the playground at the corner of Second Avenue and East 20th Street and when she tried to leave, Stroman entered the bathroom and closed the door. The victim told police that Stroman was also shirtless and he allegedly had his pants down and was masturbating while holding the door shut. The victim said that she then yelled for help, at which point Stroman moved away from the door.

The victim as well as a witness told police that Stroman was still naked and masturbating when he left the bathroom. Stroman was charged with unlawful imprisonment and public lewdness.

MAN ALLEGEDLY FILMED UNDER WOMAN’S SKIRT AT UNION SQUARE SUBWAY
Police arrested 37-year-old Carlos Rivera for allegedly filming under a woman’s skirt inside the Union Square station at Union Square East and East 14th Street on Thursday, August 9 at 5:56 p.m. Rivera allegedly was walking up the stairs in the station behind a woman in her 20s while holding his cell phone facing him with the camera function in record mode.

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